Research on the Social Functions of Silk Road Cultural Heritage: Cross-Border Tourism and the Reconstruction of National Memory
Abstract
Against the backdrop of the continuous advancement of the Belt and Road Initiative, cross-border tourism cooperation between Xinjiang, China and Kazakhstan has become an important link connecting the two countries. Based on the theories of "collective memory" and "cultural memory" in sociology, this paper explores how Silk Road cultural heritage realizes the reconstruction of contemporary national memory and exerts its multi-dimensional social functions through cross-border tourism practices. The research shows that cross-border tourism transforms static material heritage into dynamic memory narratives serving current social needs through mechanisms such as selective activation, narrative integration, emotional attachment, and cross-border dialogical negotiation. This process of memory reconstruction has effectively strengthened the sense of community for the Chinese nation internally, enhanced the cultural confidence and national identity of ethnic minorities in border areas; externally, it has consolidated the emotional foundation of the "China-Central Asia Community with a Shared Future", built an effective platform for people-to-people diplomacy, and laid a solid public opinion foundation for the sustainable development of bilateral relations. This paper not only provides a theoretical perspective for understanding the in-depth role of cultural heritage in cross-border governance, but also offers academic reference and reflection for the formulation of relevant policies.
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