Hao Lu

PhD thesis title: Chinese folk religion as a bridge between heritage and sustainability: case studies in Chinese rural villages

I study how culture and environment are deeply connected in rural China. My work looks at Chinese Folk Religion and Fengshui traditions, where communities care for ponds, forests, waterways, and temples as part of their everyday heritage. These practices carry spiritual meaning, strengthen social ties, and also help protect the local environment.

I am especially interested in eco-cultural heritage—approaches that treat culture and nature as inseparable. Alongside local traditions, I also examine how government policies, such as China’s ecocultural zones, can better support community knowledge and values.

By combining ethnographic research with policy analysis, I aim to contribute to the growing field of sustainable heritage studies and debates on ecocultural heritage worldwide. My broader goal is to advance more inclusive and integrated approaches to heritage management that bring together community knowledge, cultural values, and environmental sustainability.