Disneyfication or self-referentiality: Recent conservation efforts and modern planning history in datong

Abstract

In order to renovate historical landmarks and promote tourism in Datong, a series of projects has been undertaken since 2008. The redevelopment strategy has bulldozed much of the old city and replaced it with a new faux-historic, ‘ancient’ city in the construction of an idealised heritage rather than a literal re-creation of historic Datong. We outline the modern planning history of Datong. A case study analysis of the (re)construction of the city walls and the improvement of the Huayansi temple complex critically engages discussion between the self-referentiality of Chinese faux-heritage and the hyperreality of Disneyfication. We conclude by asking whether the new (re)development may actually come to be regarded as an authentic representation of the current era.