When the Global Meets the Local in Tourism-Cultural Performances in Lijiang as Case Studies

As one of the most popular tourism destinations of China, the World Heritage Site Old Town of Lijiang has attracted millions of tourists from around the world. The commoditization of local culture and its manifestation in the indigenous religion have emerged to satisfy the demand of its booming mass tourism. Taking three cultural performances as case studies-namely, Naxi Ancient Music, Lijiang Impression, and Naxi Marriage Courtyard-this article aims to explore the influence of globalization and localization on the development of tourism in Lijiang. It examines how these performances are interpreted and transformed into cultural productions by the local tourism market. During this endless flow between the global and the local, cultural performances show the dynamic forms of encounter, combining the homogenization of global capital and the heterogenization of local ethnicity.