Introduction

This chapter explores the evolution of state-led rural tourism development in China over the past four decades, from a focus on ethnic and heritage tourism to the contemporary rise of Rural Tourism Makers (RTMs), with greater economic and cultural capital. It explains how they have brought a process of tourism gentrification to rural areas. The chapter outlines the unique process of rural tourism gentrification in China and discusses how it is caused by factors like non-private land ownership, Renqing society, and unequal identity politics between urban and rural residents. Based on fieldwork and interviews, this book aims to understand RTMs’ identities, their impact on the rural landscape, and their relationships with local residents.