Dr Yawen Xu is a heritage researcher specialising in intangible cultural heritage (ICH) management. She is an Associate Professor in the School of Tourism at Nanchang University. Her research focuses mainly on ICH management and the sustainable development of traditional craftsmanship, crafts production, and heritage tourism.

EMPLOYMENT AND POSITIONS

· 2024.1 to present, Associate Professor, School of Tourism, Nanchang University

· 2021.11-2023.12, Lecturer, School of Tourism, Nanchang University

· 2021.3-2021.8, Research Assistant & Project Manager, School of Social Sciences, University of Western Australia

· 2019.1-2021.8, Casual Teaching Staff, School of Social Sciences, University of Western Australia

RESEARCH EXPERTISES

Intangible Heritage Management

Heritage Tourism

Heritage Policies

Craftsmanship Transmission 

ACADEMIC WORKS

[1] Xu，Yawen. Thinking Heritage Through China, by Andrew Scott Johnston[J]. International Journal of Heritage Studies, 2025, 31(8): 1180-1182.

[2] Xu，Yawen. 遗产化背景下工业城市绅士化演变过程与机制—以“瓷都”景德镇为例 [The Dynamics of Gentrification in the Industrial City amid Heritagization: A Case Study of China’s Porcelain Capital Jingdezhen][J].人文地理[Human Geography], 2025, 40(4): 57-65+87. 

[3] Xu，Yawen, Tao，Yu. , & Smith，Benjamin. Long COVID for the Craft Industry: Findings from China’s Porcelain Capital pre and post COVID[J]. Cultural Trends, 2025, 34(2): 282-298.  

[4] Tao, Yu & Xu, Yawen. Cultural governance of intangible cultural heritage in contemporary China: An institutional analysis of legislation, policy, and initiative[M]// Liu, Tianyang & Tan, Xiao. The China Path of Global Governance: Conceptual Reconstruction and Practical Innovation. Beijing: China Social Sciences Press, 2024: 250-273. ISNB: 9787522740416. (Book Chapter)

[5] Xu，Yawen. Intangible Cultural Heritage and Tourism in China: A Critical Approach, by Junjie Su[J]. International Journal of Heritage Studies, 2024, 30(2): 262-264.

[6] Xu, Yawen. Unveiling the Future: How Can XR Transform Religious Digital Cultural Heritage?[Z]. Acaudio (Insights), 2023.

[7] Xu, Yawen & Wang, Jia. 茶文化非遗资源融入我省茶产业高质量发展的对策建议 [Consulting Report for the Integration of Traditional Tea-related Intangible Heritage into the Advancement of Provincial Tea Industry] [R]. Entrusted by Jiangxi Provincial Government, 2023. （Second Prize for Outstanding Research Achievements from the China Think Tank Index）

[8] Xu，Yawen & Tao, Yu. Religion-related Intangible Cultural Heritage Safeguarding Practices and Initiatives of the Contemporary Chinese State[J]. Religions, 2022, 13(8): 687.

[9] Xu，Yawen & Tao, Yu. Cultural Impacts of State Interventions: Traditional Craftsmanship in China’s Porcelain Capital in the Mid to Late 20th Century[J]. International Journal of Intangible Heritage, 2022, 17: 214-231.

[10] Xu，Yawen. Craft Production in a Socialist Planned Economy: The Case of Jingdezhen’s State-owned Porcelain Factories in the Mid to Late 20th Century[J]. Journal of Modern Craft, 2022, 15(1): 25-41.

[11] Xu, Yawen, Tao, Yu, & Smith, Benjamin. China’s Emerging Legislative and Policy Framework for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage[J]. International Journal of Cultural Policy, 2022, 28(5): 566-580.

[12] Xu，Yawen. Heritage Tourism: From Problems to Possibilities, by Yujie Zhu[J]. International Journal of Heritage Studies, 2022, 28(1): 127–129. 

[13] Xu，Yawen. Rethinking the Future of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Chinese Craft Production [D]. PhD thesis, Perth: University of Western Australia, 2021.

[14] Xu，Yawen. Reinventing Craft in China: The Contemporary Politics of Yixing Zisha Ceramics, by Geoffrey Gowlland [J]. Anthropological Forum, 2018, 28(4): 427–429.

[15] Xu，Yawen．国际文化遗产管理与研究：范式，趋势和展望[Cultural Heritage Management and Scholarship in the International Arena: Paradigms, Trends, and Recommendations][J].文化遗产[Cultural Heritage], 2021, (2): 42-51.

[16] Xu, Yawen & Gan, Qiaolin. 扎根理论视角下旅游非正式部门成长路径研究: 以安徽西递古村为例 [The Growth Path of Tourism Informal Sector Based on Grounded Theory: A Case of Xidi Ancient Village in Anhui] [J].人文地理[Human Geography], 2016, 31(5): 99-105.  

[17] Xu, Yawen & Gan, Qiaolin. 广州T.I.T®创意产业园土利用结构演化的系统动力学分析[The System Dynamic Analysis of Land Utilization Structure Evolution for Guangzhou T.I.T® Creative Industrial Park][J].中国土地科学[China Land Sciences], 2015, 29(9): 42-49.

[18] Xu, Yawen, Gan, Qiaolin, & Zheng, Di. 旅游形象屏蔽理论“例外”现象研究: 西递、宏村实证对比分析[The Exceptional Phenomenon of Tourism Image Screening Theory: An Empirical Comparison Study of Xidi and Hongcun][J].华南师范大学学报（自然科学版）[Journal of South China Normal University ( Natural Science Edition)], 2016, 48(4): 77-82.  

[19] Xu, Yawen & Gan, Qiaolin. The Semi-formalization of Tourism Informal Sector in world cultural heritage sites: A case study of Xidi ancient village. [M]// Liang Wenhui. Tourism and Event Industry Development. Beijing: China Social Sciences Press, 2016: 267-281. ISNB：9787516179888. (Book Chapter)

MAIN RESEARCH FUNDING

1. National Social Science Foundation of China (Youth Project), Title: Digital Upgrading of the Traditional Craftsmanship Industry Value Chain: An Evolutionary Perspective, Grant No. 22CGL072, 2022-2025, CNY 200,000 (Principal Investigator)

2. Humanities and Social Science Research Base Project of Jiangxi Province, Title: Digitalization of Jingdezhen porcelain heritage industry amid and post COVID, Grant No. JD22087, 2022-2024, CNY 20,000 (Principal Investigator)

3. Philosophy and Social Sciences Research Base Project of Jiangxi Province, Title: Digital-Driven Governance and Adaptive Tourism Develooment for World Cultural Heritage in Jiangxi, Grant No. 25ZXSKJD10, 2025-2027, CNY 10,000 (Principal Investigator)