How do older people conserve cultural heritage in rural areas: evidence from Zhejiang, China

This paper investigates older people s role in the conservation of traditional cultural heritage in rural areas. The study incorporated surveys of older people and ethnographic field work in rural towns in the Zhejiang province, China. The findings suggest that older people can play an active role in cultural heritage conservation, and can also help promote the equal valorisation of tangible and intangible heritage within conservation. However, their performance is subject to a series of factors, among which in China the State is the most influential. On the basis of the findings, the authors have developed a framework to explain the relationship between the activities of older people, the State and the preservation of cultural heritage in a selected area in rural China. This article offers empirical evidence to support nascent theories about conservation and urban and rural regeneration from the perspective of an active but ageing population. It is hoped that the work presented will help policy makers justify the promotion of the engagement of local older people in the processes of cultural heritage conservation.