Dimensions of Red Tourism Experience in China: A Textual Analysis of Online Travelogues

Red tourism, as a distinctive and culturally significant form of tourism in China, uniquely integrates revolutionary heritage preservation with educational functions, relying fundamentally on high-quality visitor experiences to ensure both the effective dissemination of red culture and the long-term sustainable development of scenic areas. This study employs an innovative netnographic approach to systematically analyze a comprehensive collection of travelogues from leading platforms Ctrip and Mafengwo, utilizing NVivo software for rigorous thematic coding to construct a robust dimensional model of red tourism experience. By developing and validating a four-dimensional theoretical framework that thoughtfully encompasses historical cognition, deep emotional engagement, meaningful educational impact, and refined aesthetic appreciation, the research provides not only a novel analytical structure but also substantial methodological support for both theoretical exploration and practical application in red tourism development. The findings yield particularly valuable insights for strategically optimizing experiential design elements and effectively promoting the high-quality, sustainable development of red tourism destinations across China’s diverse regional contexts.