Activation of Intangible Cultural Heritage and Industrial Empowerment: Differential Paths and Collaborative Insights into Cultural-Tourism Integration in Zhejiang and Harbin

Abstract

This paper  focuses  on the practices  of Zhejiang  Province  and Harbin  City  in the activation,  utilization,  and  integration  of  intangible  cultural  heritage  (ICH)  with cultural and tourism industries. By conducting an in-depth comparative analysis of their  differentiated  paths,  it  reveals  the  underlying  resource  endowments,  driving mechanisms, and implementation effects, while exploring the possibility and value of regional collaborative development. The study shows that relying on a solid private economic  foundation,  active  market  mechanisms,  and  leading  digital  innovation capabilities, Zhejiang has formed an "industrial ecological" activation model centered on productive protection, industrial chain extension, and brand-oriented operation (Xu Yiyi, 2021). Harbin, on the other hand, has leveraged its unique ice-snow natural resources, European-style historical blocks, and influential  festival  IPs to create a "scene-immersive" integration path characterized by scenario construction, immersive experience, and event-driven development (Zhao Jingbo, 2022). The distinct practices of the two regions in terms of goal orientation, implementation strategies, and effect manifestation provide diversified and replicable samples for the integration of ICH with cultural and tourism industries nationwide. In the future, efforts should be made to strengthen model learning, market interconnection, technology sharing, and policy   coordination  to  jointly  promote  the  protection   and  inheritance  of  ICH  and  the high-quality development of cultural and tourism industries (Dai Bin, 2022).