Potential of the Digital Information Platform Applied in Promotion of Rural Landscape in China: From Preliminary Practices to Framework Conception

Abstract

The rural landscape is an integrated system of tangible and intangible cultural heritages in rural areas, which includes multiple attributes in terms of culture, spirit and nature. The multi-dimensional, holistic protection and promotion of the rural landscape is considered to be a challenging topic in the academic circle. In the past two decades, digital information platforms have been widely used in the field of protecting cultural heritage because of their convenience, as well as their cross-temporal and systematic nature. However, a digital information platform that is specifically designed for a rural landscape is still in the initial stage of experimentation and exploration, and there is a lack of systematic understanding and overall framework conception. In this paper, with the preliminary practice of the rural landscape digital information platform (RLDIP) in China in the past two decades as the example, a combination of qualitative and quantitative analysis is conducted to deeply explore the data source, data type, data organization and functional structure of the platform samples. The common characteristics, potential in application and typical problems of the current platform are summarized. What is more, based on the need for a comprehensive rural revitalization in such developing countries as China, a framework conception of the rural landscape digital information platform (RLDIP) is proposed, and its data-classification system, functional structure and digital process are identified. This study will provide a theoretical basis and technical reference for the digital information platform to develop its potential in overall protection, coordinated development and sustainable management of the rural landscape in the future.

1. Introduction

Rural landscape (RL (the rural landscape is hereinafter referred to as RL)) is a special type of culture heritage, which is composed of tangible and intangible cultural heritages in rural areas and serves as the crystallization of the collective wisdom created by generations of villagers in long-term social practice [1].

According to the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage [2] adopted in 1972 and the Text of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage [3] adopted in 2003, “cultural heritage” in the physical form includes buildings, steles and paintings of outstanding universal value from an artistic and scientific point of view, as well as elements or structures, inscriptions, caves and complexes of an archaeological nature, while “intangible cultural heritage” means the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge and skills—as well as the instruments, objects, artefacts and cultural spaces associated therewith—that communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals recognize as part of their cultural heritage. Based on the ICOMOS PRINCIPLES [4], rural landscape, as cultural heritage, encompasses not only physical attributes but also wider physical, cultural and environmental linkages and settings. It also includes the cultural values and meanings attached by people and communities in the past and contemporary eras. The focus of protecting rural landscapes is transforming from a single perspective into a multi-dimensional perspective. Therefore, as for rural landscapes, there is an urgent need for the value recognition of multiple subjects involved in its protection.

Since the 1990s, digital technology has been applied in the field of protecting cultural landscapes [5], and fruitful outcomes are yielded by the digitization of the cultural heritage. With regard to the digital acquisition and storage of cultural landscapes, the digital information platforms (DIP (the digital information platform is hereinafter referred to as DIP)) are typical [6], such as the Digitization of Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes and Virtual Forbidden City. However, while most of the research tasks focus on tangible cultural heritage, such as buildings and sites, the digital conservation of rural cultural landscape heritage, a living heritage that integrates elements of both tangible and intangible cultural landscapes and contains multiple attributes, such as natural, cultural and spiritual, is rarely studied. In particular, people still fail to gain a systematic understanding of the rural landscape digital information platform (RLDIP (the rural landscape digital information platform is hereinafter referred to as RLDIP)) and there are mainly three challenges. First, in view of the RL’s heritage attributes and transition of the protection prototype, how should the functional structure of the RLDIP adapt to better provide data service for the RL’s value recognition? Second, in the context of rural revitalization, how does RLDIP promote the value recognition of the RL’s heritage in an all-round manner? Third, required by a multi-objective collaboration, how does the RLDIP take advantage of the characteristics of the digital platform to realize coordination of RL digital protection and development?

Therefore, this study, with the RLDIP preliminary practices in China as the analytical samples, explores the RLDIP framework system, as well as its potential in RL protection and promotion in China. The aims are as follows.

• Accurately classify the RL components, on the one hand, and establish the DIP framework that reflects the RL characteristics and correlates the tangible and intangible elements, on the other hand, in order to provide a basis for comprehensive RL value recognition.
• Explore the function settings of the RLDIP that stimulate collaborative governance of multiple subjects, on the one hand, and realize integration of data with multiple sources and types, on the other hand.
• Adapt to the multi-scenario application trend of DIP required by the promotion of an RL living heritage, clarify the digital process of the RLDIP, stimulate the potential of interactive technologies and promote the sustainable management of the RLDIP.

2. Literature Review

2.1. Transition of the Protection Prototype: From Protection to Promotion of Living Rural Landscape

In the field of heritage protection, the concept of an RL covers all tangible and intangible heritage resources related to traditional rural production and life, such as natural and artificial landscapes, buildings, rural customs, and cultural skills [7]. The ICOMOS-IFLA Principles Concerning Rural Landscapes as Heritage, adopted by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) in 2017, not only reflects the direction of international RL heritage protection—from the protection to promotion of a living rural landscape—but also emphasizes the analytical approach to RL heritage protection from an overall perspective of the relationship between nature and culture.

Both the concept of an RL and its protection prototype have gradually developed. A material-based approach, the first-generation protection prototype, was the primary in the field of heritage protection [8]. The protection process and results were too dependent on the cognition and knowledge system of “experts”, which caused a separation of heritage, communities and their places to some extent [9]. The subsequent second-generation prototype, A values-based approach [10], strengthened the importance of community and expanded the concept of the material-based protection prototype. However, the criteria for judging heritage value were single, and in most cases, they were limited by the supervision of experts [11,12], which failed to pose a substantial challenge to the first-generation protection prototype [13]. The third-generation protection prototype, A people-centered approach [14], breaks the limitations of the first two approaches, further emphasizing coordination and continuous cooperation among the public, non-governmental organizations, research institutions and administrative departments at all levels [15], and the RL protection has changed from protection to promotion of living rural landscapes [16]. This new prototype believes that protection is based on an open cognition of the tangible and intangible heritage values of an RL in more dimensions. Through multi-party cooperation among local communities and other organizations [17], more diverse value-evaluation systems are established, and diversified tools and methods are used to achieve the sustainable development of an RL.

2.2. Policy of Rural Revitalization in China: Seek a Balance between Heritage Protection and Socio-Economic Development

With the process of modernization and rapid urbanization in China, rural decline is common, and a dual contradiction between urban and rural areas is ever-growing, which hinders the sustainable development of rural areas [18]. Since the 21st century, the Communist Party of China (CPC (the Communist Party of China is hereinafter referred to as CPC)) has placed new urbanization on its agenda. In 2002, the 16th National Congress of CPC clearly put forward for the first time the new idea of “Urban-Rural Overall Planning” and began the pilot work for rural construction [19]. In 2012, the 18th National Congress of CPC put forward the strategy of “New Urbanization” [20]. Since 2017, the Rural Revitalization Strategy has been upgraded to a national strategy, and through a series of policy guidance, it emphasizes all-round revitalization of the countryside, including industrial revitalization, talent revitalization, cultural revitalization, ecological revitalization and organizational revitalization [21,22].

In this context, the RL protection needs to seek a balance between protection and development. On the one hand, it is necessary to protect the integrity, authenticity and continuity of traditional villages and the surrounding environment [23]. On the other hand, with the focus on improving the rural living environment, it is important to seek the rational use of RL heritage as well as promote its living inheritance and sustainable development. In order to achieve these goals and promote the collaborative participation of multiple parties, it is significant to raise public awareness of the RL’s multiple values in a comprehensive manner.

2.3. Application of DIP in Protection of Cultural Heritage

In the 1990s, digital protection was introduced into the field of cultural heritage [24]. In 2002, UNESCO officially proposed the concept of the digital protection of cultural heritage [25]. In 2004, in the 3D-Mural Project supported by the European Union, new multi-media technology was adopted to record, classify, preserve and restore ancient artifacts, buildings and sites [26], thus opening up a technical path for digital protection of tangible cultural heritage. In 2008, in the France-based Europeana Project, the digital network platform for cultural heritage was set up initially by 3D scanning and scenario reconstruction of archaeological heritage in 13 European countries [27], and it was verified that cultural heritage DIP was feasible. However, these projects are mainly targeted at tangible cultural heritage, and there is a lack of systematic research on the digitization of cultural heritage with both tangible and intangible attributes.

In China, heritage digitization began in the late 1990s, which initially focused on the digital archiving of cultural relics [28]. In the 21st century, China began to attach importance to the digital protection of intangible cultural heritage [29]. In 2005, a series of policies and documents set a clear course for the construction of cultural heritage DIP [30]. In 2010, China launched the Digital Protection Project of Intangible Cultural Heritage [31] and carried out a number of tasks regarding cultural heritage DIP construction, such as the Digital Forbidden City and The Chinese Seal Cutting Art Application Software Project. These tasks confirmed DIP’s convenience, as well as its cross-temporal and systematic nature [32].

The DIP’s convenience is reflected in the effective replacement and supplementation of data content, the DIP’s cross-temporal nature is reflected in the sharing and dissemination of data resources and the DIP’s systematic nature is reflected in the effective correlation between data components. Based on these properties, DIP is introduced into the field of RL protection required by multi-objective coordination. Since the National Rural Revitalization Strategy was implemented in 2017, a number of RLDIP projects have emerged. These preliminary practices provide various data samples for further research on the RLDIP data construction and organization, as well as functional structure.

3. Materials and Methods

3.1. Objects and Materials

This study conducts an overall analysis of the RLDIP preliminary practices in China by means of online search and literature collection and collects 21 RL-related DIP samples on the Chinese public networks. The DIP samples collected in this study are from 1999 to 2022, spanning more than 20 years. Efforts are made to sort the establishment date, platform name, copyright holder, platform type and website link of the 21 platforms, and then straighten them out into a comprehensive table (

Table 1. List of the RL-related DIP samples in China.

Stage	Number	Date	Platform	Copyright Holder	Type	Website Link
Stage 1: Comprehensive urban archives DIPs (including the RL-related pages)	A1	1999	Yunan Memory (Webpage of characteristic buildings, such as the old stage, etc.)	Yunnan Provincial Archives Bureau	Government archives and collections inventory	http://www.ynda.yn.gov.cn/html/yunnanjiyi/yunnanlaoxitai/, etc. (accessed on 26 January 2023)
	A2	2001	Tongguan Memory (Webpage of ancient towns, etc.)	Tongchuan Archives Bureau	Government archives and collections inventory	http://daj.tongchuan.gov.cn/news_show.rt?contentId=1214&channlId=40, etc. (accessed on 26 April 2023)
	A3	2002	Guangzhou Memory (Webpage of some pictures of rural landscape)	Guangzhou Municipal Archives	Government archives and collections inventory	http://www.gzdaj.gov.cn/gzjy/tsgz/jzxclzxy/content/post_138065.html http://www.gzdaj.gov.cn/gzjy/tsgz/gzxczxpsmlxc/, etc. (accessed on 6 April 2023)
	A4	2003	Xi’an Memory (Webpage of local dwellings, etc.)	Xi’an Archives Network	Government archives and collections inventory	http://www.xadaj.gov.cn/xada/web/wszl/xajy/gywc/2008/08/11/4028c4df679dfc3a01679e27afb600ad.html, etc. (accessed on 6 April 2023)
	A5	2005	China Intangible Cultural Heritage Digital Museum (Webpage of rural intangible cultural heritage and related research findings)	Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China	Heritage organization and inventory	https://www.ihchina.cn/video_detail/25443.html https://www.ihchina.cn/video_detail/25446.html https://www.ihchina.cn/video_detail/26236.html https://www.ihchina.cn/diaoyan_details/19371.html, etc. (accessed on 6 April 2023).
	A6	2005	Jinjiang Memory (Webpage of local customs and traditional buildings)	Jinjiang City Library	City library and collections inventory	http://jjlib.cn:8072/ArticleShow3.aspx?SectionId=b42f861b-17d5-4b5f-90a2-0d326f352b03&Aid=10454 http://jjlib.cn:8072/ArticleShow3.aspx?SectionId=3739f76b-252b-4947-bde8-e8234e879c33&Aid=10138, etc. (accessed on 6 April 2023).
	A7	2005	Beijing Memory (Webpage of rural maps, architecture and intangible cultural heritage)	Capital Library	City library and collections inventory	https://bjmemory.clcn.net.cn/#/search?0=%E6%9D%91, etc. (accessed on 6 April 2023).
	A8	2006	Hangzhou Urban Memory (Webpage of countryside, local customs, etc.)	Hangzhou Archives Bureau & Archives	Government archives and collections inventory	https://www.hzarchives.gov.cn/info/6771.jspx https://www.hzarchives.gov.cn/info/6888.jspx, https://www.hzarchives.gov.cn/info/6956.jspx, etc. (accessed on 6 April 2023).
	A9	2007	Guangdong Cultural Center (Webpage of exhibition hall of rural intangible cultural heritage)	Guangdong Cultural Center	Heritage organization and inventory	http://www.gdsqyg.com/html/index.html, etc. (accessed on 26 January 2023).
	A10	2008	Ningbo Archives—Ningbo Memory (Webpage of nearly 20 traditional villages and towns)	Ningbo Archives Bureau & Archives	Government archives and collections inventory	https://www.nbdaj.gov.cn/zy/nbjy/jyxm/201505/t20150514_17767.shtml https://www.nbdaj.gov.cn/zy/nbjy/ycfg/202008/t20200828_30896.shtml, etc. (accessed on 6 April 2023).
Stage 2: RL-specific DIPs	P1	2017	Guizhou Traditional Village Digital Museum	Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of Guizhou Province	Provincial level heritage resources management information platform	http://webapp.xiaoheitech.cn/ (accessed on 26 January 2023).
	P2	2017	Qiandongnan Traditional Village Digital Museum	Kaili Yunhan Smart City Operation Management Co., Ltd.	Provincial-level rural heritage resources management information platform in cooperation with enterprises	http://museum.zhaiu.com/ (accessed on 26 January 2023).
	P3	2018	Traditional Chinese Village Digital Museum	Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of the People’s Republic of China	National-level heritage resources management system	http://www.dmctv.cn/ (accessed on 26 January 2023).
	P4	2018	Gaoqian Online Digital Museum	Digital Humanities Research Center, Renmin University of China	Repository of academic institutions	http://gqjy.bjjy.cn/ (accessed on 26 January 2023).
	P5	2019	Traditional Village Website	Jicai Feng Academy of Literature and Art, Tianjin University	Digital information platform of academic institutions	http://www.chuantongcunluo.com/ (accessed on 26 January 2023).
	P6	2019	Sichuan Ancient Town and Village Digital Museum	Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of Sichuan Province	Provincial-level heritage resources management information platform	http://baike.sc.xinhuanet.com/ (accessed on 26 January 2023).
	P7	2019	Digital Information Platform of Traditional Villages in Shanxi Province	Shanxi Urban and Rural Overall Planning Collaborative Innovation Center	Provincial-level heritage resources management information platform	http://www.sxctcl.cn/ (accessed on 26 January 2023).
	P8	2020	Rural Digital Museum	Digital Rural Development Team, Xiamen University	Repository of academic institutions	https://www.d-cun.com/ (accessed on 26 January 2023).
	P9	2020	Digital Museum of Traditional Villages in Xiangxi Prefecture	Xiangxi Hengguang Film and Television Production Co., Ltd.	Provincial-level rural heritage resources DIP and promotion projects in cooperation with enterprises	http://www.xxzctclszbwg.com/ (accessed on 26 January 2023).
	P10	2021	Digital Display and Communication Platform of Traditional Villages of the Tujia Ethnic Group	College of Arts, Hubei University	Repository and promotion projects of academic institutions	http://www.tjclwh.com/ (accessed on 26 January 2023).
	P11	2022	Digital Platform of Traditional Villages in Weinan	Weinan Housing and Urban-Rural Construction Bureau	Municipal-level heritage resources management information platform	https://www.wnctcl.com/ (accessed on 26 January 2023).

). From the preliminary analysis of these samples, it is found that among them, 10 samples (A1–A10) are comprehensive urban archive DIPs, including some scattered RL-related pages and a systematic RLDIP architecture has not been formed; 11 samples (P1–P11) are RL-specific DIPs, and there is a clear functional system of RLDIP. On the basis of the above-mentioned preliminary research on the characteristics of sample development, efforts are made to select 11 RL-specific DIP samples (P1–P11), on one hand, and conduct more in-depth quantitative and qualitative analysis on data sources, methods of data organization and functional structures, on the other hand.

3.2. Methods

The research on the platform in this paper mainly includes the following steps (Figure 1):

• Firstly, sample collection and screening. In this study, the related DIP samples are collected with the help of keyword network retrieval and literature reading. Then, by classifying and sorting, the platform samples with a clear RLDIP functioning system and complete architecture are screened out for subsequent in-depth analysis.
• Secondly, sample analysis. To begin with, the comparative analysis is used to quantify the data sources of the RLDIP samples and clarify the types of the current RLDIP data sources. In addition, a cluster analysis is conducted to summarize and compare the navigation items and content areas of the sample client interface in order to summarize the functional type and organizational structure of RLDIP. Finally, the data-organization characteristics of the current RLDIP are further clarified through the analysis of the correlation between the material cultural landscape elements and the intangible cultural landscape elements of the samples.
• Thirdly, the RLDIP framework conception. On the basis of sample analysis, an inductive reasoning method is used to summarize the development trend and current problems of the samples; in combination with previous theoretical research and practical needs, efforts are made to clarify the elemental system of RL, propose the RLDIP framework concept and work out the digital implementation process to promote the RL sustainable management.

4. Results

4.1. Clarify the Policy-Driven Characteristics of DIP Development Stages through Comprehensive Analysis

The DIP samples have obvious characteristics in terms of development stages. In the first stage until 2010, the scattered RL appeared in subpages in comprehensive urban archive DIPs, which were mainly established by provincial and municipal archives and libraries. In the second stage, 11 RL-specific DIPs have been launched since 2017. Among them, four were established by housing and urban–rural construction management departments, five were established by universities and research institutions, and two were established by enterprises. Through comparative analysis, it is found that the transition time of the above-mentioned stages is highly consistent with the release time of relevant policies and documents (Figure 2). Therefore, the development of RLDIPs in China is obviously driven by policies.

4.2. Classify the RLDIP Data Sources with the Help of Comparative Analysis

The data sources of the 11 specialized RLDIP samples are divided into five categories: literature collection, field shooting, holography, villagers’ dictation and multi-party sharing.

Literature collection and field shooting are the main sources of the platform’s data. A total of 72.7% of the launched RLDIPs use holography to collect information and make panoramic pictures of the website; villagers’ dictation accounts for 45.5%, while multi-party sharing accounts for 54.5% (Figure 3). It can be seen that in order to ensure diverse and real-time platform data, the first RLDIP projects pay attention to the multi-party participation of villagers and people from all walks of life in terms of data construction, thereby promoting the process of value recognition by all parties.

4.3. Define the RLDIP Function and Organizational Structure through Cluster Analysis

Through functional analysis of the first RLDIPs launched in China, it is found that the functional setting of these platforms is mainly based on the display of regional RL, with such basic functions as navigation, search, online use and visualization. In the past two years, a lot of expanded functions have emerged, such as AR/VR panoramic experience, policy disclosure, and sale of cultural and creative products. Among these platforms, those led by academic institutions have more standardized data-entry formats, more open data-acquisition paths, and richer functional application scenarios; those established by government agencies have more extensive village data coverage and clearer industrial policy orientation.

This study further clarifies current RLDIP data organization by exploring the RLDIP functional structure from two aspects: basic functions and expanded functions.

Currently, the basic functions of RLDIP are mainly used to meet the basic needs of users to search and obtain data resources, which fall into four categories: navigation, search, online use and visualization (

Table 2. Statistical analysis of the function settings in RLDIP samples.

Number *	Classification of Function Setting
	Basic Functions				Extended Functions
					Development and Utilization					Academic Research			Management
	Navigation	Search	Online Use	Visualization	AR Panoramic Experience	Map Interaction	Volunteer Service	Tour Guidance	Cultural and Creative Store	Village Service	Development Guidance	Industry Planning	Monitoring Platform	Associated Geo-Platform
P1	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	○	○	●	●	●	●	●
P2	●	●	●	●	○	●	○	●	○	○	●	●	○	●
P3	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	○	●	○	○	○
P4	●	●	●	●	●	●	○	●	○	○	○	○	○	○
P5	●	●	●	●	○	●	○	○	○	○	●	○	○	○
P6	●	●	●	○	○	●	●	○	○	●	●	○	○	○
P7	●	●	●	●	●	●	○	●	○	●	●	○	○	○
P8	●	●	●	●	●	●	○	○	●	●	●	●	●	●
P9	●	○	●	●	●	○	○	○	○	○	●	●	●	●
P10	●	○	●	●	●	○	○	○	○	○	●	○	○	○
P11	●	●	●	●	●	●	○	○	○	●	●	●	●	●
Total	11	9	11	10	8	9	3	4	2	5	10	5	4	5

* This number corresponds to the number in Table 1. Note: The symbol ● indicates that the platform has the above function, while the symbol ○ indicates that the platform does not have the above function.

). After 2017, the basic functions of the online RLDIPs have improved, and all the platforms have navigation functions; a total of 81.8% of the platforms have the function of search; a total of 90.0% of the platforms have the function of visualization, for example, panoramic navigation of digital maps. However, through further research on the navigation page (

Table 3. List of navigation-column settings for the selected RLDIP samples.

Number *	Navigation Column
P1	Village Collection, Architectural Style, Ancient Village Image, Policy Dynamics, Village Activity, Construction Management, Communication Service
P2	Village Profile, Historical Evolution, Village Building, Production and Lifestyle, Folk Culture, Tour Guidance
P3	Village, Special Topic, Special Exhibition, Activity, Culture and Creation
P4	Gaoqian Wu Family, Regional Fengshui, Traditional Residential Houses, Heirloom of Poetry and Rites, Spiritual Space, Rural Life
P5	Village News, Characteristic Villages, Industry Focus, Ancient Villages in the Lens
P6	Latest Information, National Directory, Filing Investigation, Village 120, Expert Opinion, Center Information
P7	Village Display, Tourism Service, Data Center, Academic Activity, Monitoring Management, Village Archive, Public Participation
P8	Map, Exploration, Rural Construction, Culture and Creation, Academics
P9	Village, Intangible Cultural Heritage, Public Information
P10	News Consultation, Typical Village, Traditional Culture, Digital Display, Cooperative Broadcasting
P11	Village, Image, Construction, Planning, Culture, Architecture, Culture and Tourism, Policy Information, Protection and Governance

* This number corresponds to the number in Table 1.

), it is found that a unified standard for RL element types is not set up, and the classification of RL elements is confusing.

Nowadays, the extended functions of RLDIP are mainly divided into three categories: development and utilization for the public, academic research for researchers, and management for government. Among these expanded functions, guidance and development in the function of academic research account for the highest proportion, followed by AR/VR panoramic experience and map interaction in the function of development and utilization (Table 2). It is seen that, after the Rural Revitalization Strategy in 2017, China’s RLDIP has no longer been limited to such functions as data storage and protection. Instead, the function of communication has emerged, in combination with new technologies, showing a trend of attaching equal importance to the protection and development of rural landscapes.

4.4. Identify the RLDIP Current Characteristics of Data Organization through Correlation Analysis

This study further clarifies the current method of RLDIP data organization through the analysis of the correlation between the RL material elements and the RL non-material elements.

The RL components are divided into tangible elements and intangible elements, and overall protection of the two elements is a prerequisite for realizing RL value recognition. Currently, the display modes of the correlation between RLDIP tangible and intangible elements are as follows: element separation without correlation, element juxtaposition with weak correlation, and element fusion with strong correlation, in the form of independent display, panoramic photo display and VR/AR/XR immersive display, respectively. Among the launched 11 RLDIP samples, 72.7% of the platform elements are weakly related, with a certain amount of display being lost; a total of 18.2% of the platform elements are related; only 9.1% of the platform elements are strongly related (Figure 4), most of which are RLDIPs led by academic institutions.

It is seen that only a few RLDIPs pay attention to the correlated display of elements, and public awareness of the overall protection of RL tangible and intangible elements needs to be raised. This study further analyzes the correlation strength of RL components. The plotly library of Python (version number 3.9.4) is used to visualize the interrelated data flow between different tangible cultural landscape elements and common intangible cultural landscape elements by a Sankey diagram (Figure 5). The analytical results show that among the current RLDIP samples, the intangible cultural landscape elements that are most likely to interact with the tangible cultural landscape elements are in terms of production activity, while the elements in terms of lifestyle, literature and art, and traditional concepts are weakly related to the tangible cultural landscape elements. The strengthened correlation is the key to the future development of RLDIPs.

In terms of the correlation between tangible elements and intangible elements of RLs, these RLDIP’s preliminary practices fail to cause public attention and conscious functional response. Most platforms display two types of elements separately. However, through the analysis of these platforms, it is found that the scenario-display mode of “space + event” has good potential and wide applicability for establishing the relationship between tangible elements and intangible elements. The scenario construction is to superimpose and mark the intangible cultural elements on the tangible three-dimensional village space by specific rural activities, in order to form a number of memory sites. This not only strengthens the humanistic value of tangible space elements but also clarifies the influence of intangible cultural elements on the local space, which better reflects the RL’s special value as a cross heritage of tangible culture and intangible culture. In recent years, the application of virtual display technologies such as AR/VR has set a feasible technical path for the above-mentioned scenario association.

5. Discussion: RLDIP Framework Conception with the Orientation of Sustainable Development

5.1. Identification and Classification of RL Components as the Fundamental Process

It is necessary to identify and classify RL components in the construction of RLDIP. Through the analysis of the current RLDIP, it is found that there is a lack of systematic identification and unified classification of RL components, which, to some extent, leads to confusion about the resource catalog and data redundancy of the RLDIP. It is not conducive to further call for associated data and platform redevelopment. In view of this, based on the RL concept and in combination with the analysis of the current RLDIP data catalog in China, a three-level classification system for RL components is constructed in this study (

Table 4. Classification of RL components.

First-Level Subsystem		Second-Level Subsystem		Third-Level Subsystem
1	Tangible Rural Landscape Heritage Elements	1.1	Natural Environment	1.1.1	Topography and Soil
				1.1.2	Hydrology and Climate
				1.1.3	Flora and Fauna
		1.2	Village Place	1.2.1	Site
				1.2.2	Axis/Center/Boundary (or other spatial organization Structure)
				1.2.3	Road/Street/lane
				1.2.4	Spatial Fabric and Landmark
				1.2.5	Square and Garden
				1.2.6	Living place (e.g., Theater, ancestral hall, etc.)
				1.2.7	Production place (e.g., champ, farm, fisheries, etc.)
				1.2.8	Historical Human Remains/Ruins
				1.2.9	Tomb/Grave
		1.3	Building and Structure	1.3.1	Building
				1.3.2	Structure (e.g., Bridge/Pagoda/Torii/well, etc.)
				1.3.3	Agricultural Facility
				1.3.4	Water Conservancy Facility/Irrigation Facility
				1.3.5	Infrastructure (e.g., sewer systems/power supply, etc.)
2	Intangible Rural Landscape Heritage Elements	2.1	Mode of Production	2.1.1	Farming/Hunting/Fishing, etc.
				2.1.2	Traditional craftsmanship
				2.1.3	Trade and Commerce
		2.2	Lifestyle and Custom	2.2.1	Eating Habit
				2.2.2	Ethnic Clothing
				2.2.3	Traditional Medicine
				2.2.4	Traditional Sport and Entertainment
				2.2.5	Festival and Folklore
				2.2.6	Life Ritual
				2.2.7	Sacrificial Ceremony
		2.3	Literature and Art	2.3.1	Fine Art
				2.3.2	Calligraphy
				2.3.3	Music
				2.3.4	Dance
				2.3.5	Local Opera
				2.3.6	Construction and Craftsmanship
				2.3.7	Oral Literature and Carrier Language
		2.4	Traditional Thought	2.4.1	Philosophy /Religion/Belief
				2.4.2	Value System/Environmental Attitude/Social Ethics
				2.4.3	Local knowledge and skills

). This system basically covers the main tangible and intangible cultural landscape elements of Chinese traditional villages, on the one hand, and provides a basic framework for constructing the RLDIP resource catalog and database, on the other hand.

5.2. Discussion and Conception of RLDIP Functional Structure

The functional framework of the RLDIP is the key to promoting the development and utilization of resources, as well as realizing rural protection and progress. With regard to the RLDIP functional structure, the five-layer system of facility layer, data layer, service layer, application layer and user layer that is widely used in various projects has proven feasible and effective.

In this framework, in order to ensure the RLDIP’s efficient operation and to better integrate multi-source and multi-type RL data, it is believed that the construction of the four functional modules of data management, knowledge management, communication and application, and interactive sharing should be strengthened (Figure 6).

• The Data Management Module is the basis for RL data collection, updates and other functional modules. It has such functions as access to multiple file types, independent search and relational search and real-time edit.
• The Knowledge Management Module is the key to establishing linkages between RL tangible and intangible elements. It provides support for the RL’s data resource mining and value evaluation by encouraging the storage and query of RL research findings and data characterization by multi-party interdisciplinary participation.
• The Communication and Application Module is necessary to promote the living inheritance of RLs and realize multiple scenario applications of the RLDIP. It integrates multiple data-service applications as well as adopts fixed-point and network communications, so as to provide RL communication paths that cater to the needs of different user groups.
• The Interactive Sharing Module is important to improve the RLDIP’s openness. It allows users to call associated data by inputting commands such as voice and action and perceive the audio–visual information on cultural landscapes; in addition, it uses and processes the RL elements of virtual traditional villages, in order to realize interactions between people and landscapes. The cohesive organization of these functional modules makes the RLDIP structure more compact, easy to maintain and steady in operation.

The relationships between the functional modules and the platform structure are shown in Figure 7.

5.3. Development Trend of RLDIP Multi-Scenario Application for Cooperative Governance

At present, the protection and development of RLs in many countries all over the world, including China, call for collaborative governance based on widespread public participation. However, there are problems such as insufficient public attention and participation. The key to solving these problems is to stimulate and strengthen the value recognition and promotion of rural landscapes in various ways. In China’s RLDIP practices, DIP shows great potential in adapting to and promoting multi-scenario applications of multi-subject collaborative governance with a higher standard of convenient functional expansion, various forms of interactions and open data sources.

In terms of function setting, the RLDIP is expanded through modules with the same DIP structure, and application development is carried out for different users, thus providing more diversified forms of participation for the RL collaborative governance. For researchers, the RLDIP promotes multi-disciplinary research in RLs by building an open-source database. For the public, the RLDIP helps to understand RL values more intuitively and comprehensively through a diversified display and immersive interaction experience, on the one hand, and causes widespread public attention of RLs, on the other hand. For government managers, the RLDIP provides a basis for policy formulation and regulatory governance with the help of the RL database, associated geographic information and multi-party information feedback. However, through the analysis of the first RLDIPs launched in China, it is shown that the current RLDIPs are obviously weak in the development of application scenarios and information feedback for local residents, which calls for more attention in terms of RLDIP construction and improvement in the future.

When it comes to data sources, compared with the traditional one-way method of data collection that mostly relies on professionals, the RLDIP supports the method of data collection and update characterized by a two-way interaction between multiple subjects and platform data. Various social organizations, professionals and the public participate in the process of data collection and modeling by means of the RLDIP in order to, in a timely manner, supplement and update the platform data, on the one hand, and realize real-time data update and multi-terminal information sharing through the application services, on the other hand. This provides a more efficient multi-party cooperation channel and scenario for collaborative governance and also develops a strong sense of participation for each subject. However, the multi-source data model requires further strengthening of standardized data classification and refined data management. The introduction of AI technology in the future may provide a new technical path for RLDIP development.

As for forms of interaction, since the rapid development of the RLDIP in China in 2017, much importance has been attached to the scenario-based immersive experience in the RLDIP construction; new technologies are adopted to integrate sociology, geography, anthropology, history and other disciplines, and work out different forms of interaction, for example, virtual display of RL development history, VR experience of village agricultural production activities, AR display of cultural landscape scenarios, H5 mini-games of rural information, etc. The data-interaction function of the RLDIP provides a new cross-temporal perspective for the visualization of the RL’s diachronic and synchronic features. These forms of interaction also enable the RL heritage to be presented and disseminated in a vivid manner, which, to some extent, stimulates the RLDIP users’ interest in RLs and their enthusiasm for participating in collaborative governance.

5.4. Digital Implementation of RLDIP as a Generator of Sustainable Management

From the first digital archive page related to the rural landscapes in China in 1999 to the public launch and rapid development of the first RLDIP in the past five years, China re-emphasized the value of the countryside—special cultural landscapes based on a long history of agricultural civilization and specific production methods. This is not only benefiting from the implementation of the Rural Revitalization Strategy at the national level, but also the inevitable result of China’s rethinking of the relationships between urban and rural areas, on the one hand, and re-understanding the wisdom of agricultural ecological civilization and the cultural root of traditional villages after more than 40 years of rapid urbanization and industrialization, on the other hand.

As an information intermediary based on the digital network, the RLDIP provides necessary information for the protection and utilization of rural landscapes with related data and services; in addition, the digital process of the RLDIP itself promotes sustainable management and development of RLs.

Efforts are made to summarize the digital processes of RLDIP implementation into three steps: digital acquisition and modeling, digital storage and processing and digital display and communication (Figure 8). The process of digital acquisition and modeling is to collect the classified data and transform the data assets for interactions between rural social ecology and environmental space in the historical process. It encourages the participation of social organizations, professionals, local residents and other parties, and provides a basis for a multi-party dialogue and valuable communication. The process of digitally storing and processing, by classifying and cataloging, format converting, digitally creating and other processing of original data, associates text data with image data, combined with editable and calibrated geographic data such as GIS and GPS, so as to promote the re-organization and re-creation of the RL’s digital resource forms, on the one hand, and help value the recognition of the RL’s multi-source data, on the other hand. The process of digitally displaying and communicating, through the integrated application of network interaction technology, displays and disseminates the RL’s features across time and space in the form of digital signals and promotes the value recognition of rural landscapes in a wider range. This value-based transmission chain of value communication, value identification and value recognition lay a solid foundation for the sustainable development of rural cultural landscapes (Figure 9).

6. Conclusions

Through analysis of the RLDIP’s preliminary practices in China over the past 20 years, this study reveals the significant policy-driven characteristics of Chinese RLDIPs. In terms of data sources, it was found that most of the samples studied have attached importance to the multi-party participation of villagers, local governments and other stake-holders. With regard to the functional construction, all the samples have four basic functions: navigation, retrieval, online use and visual presentation. Furthermore, the functional expansion of communications combined with new technologies, has recently appeared, with the ever-growing emphasis on the promotion of rural landscapes. As for data organization, all the analyzed RLDIP samples suffer from confusion, to some extent, in the classification system of the rural landscape components. In addition, only a few RLDIPs pay attention to displaying correlations between the tangible rural landscape components and the intangible components. The future development of the RLDIP should focus on strengthening this specific correlation.

Based on the analytical results given above, this paper proposes a further three-level classification system for the components of the rural landscape, which provides a basic framework for the RLDIP’s resource catalogs and databases. Also, with the aim to stimulate multi-agent collaborative governance, efforts are made to propose a conception of the RLDIP framework characterized by the five-layer architecture and four functional modules. In addition, the whole process of digitalization is presented, which shows great potential for the promotion and value recognition of rural landscapes. From a global perspective, this Chinese experience provides a digital path for the sustainable management of rural landscapes.