Author(s)

Li Li ¹, Bingxian Liu ^2,3

Affiliation(s)

¹ School of Foreign Languages, Zhuhai College of Science and Technology, Zhuhai, Guangdong, 519041, China
² School of Tourism and Public Administration, Zhuhai College of Science and Technology, Zhuhai, Guangdong, 519041, China
³ Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macao Special Administrative Region, China

Corresponding Author

Li Li

ABSTRACT

This study adopts a visitor-centered approach to explore how tourists emotionally and cognitively engage with Zhuhai's historic and cultural districts. Drawing on 151 user-generated travel narratives from leading Chinese digital platforms, the research employs a mixed-methods framework that integrates word frequency analysis with thematic content coding. The findings reveal six experiential dimensions: immersive interaction with historical heritage, aesthetics-driven photography behavior, emotional connection through local cuisine and crafts, pursuit of slow living and therapeutic spaces, the discovery and social sharing of hidden gems, and the impact of infrastructural limitations. By mapping tourists' affective responses and narrative expressions, the study introduces an emotion-based evaluative framework that complements conventional heritage assessment models. This research contributes to theoretical understandings of cultural tourism and emotional geography and provides actionable insights for destination planners seeking to enhance visitor experience in urban heritage environments.

KEYWORDS

Cultural Heritage Tourism; Historic and Cultural Districts; Tourist Experience; Emotion Mapping; User-Generated Content

CITE THIS PAPER

Li Li, Bingxian Liu, Emotion Mapping Cultural Heritage: A Visitor-Centered Analysis of Zhuhai's Historic and Cultural Districts. Tourism Management and Technology Economy (2025) Vol. 8: 249-262. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23977/tmte.2025.080131.

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