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Yuanfen and traveling neo‐tribes: Social interactions and group relations among Chinese road travelers
Author(s) -
Wang Xueji,
Xie Jia
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
international journal of tourism research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.155
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1522-1970
pISSN - 1099-2340
DOI - 10.1002/jtr.2410
Subject(s) - ethnography , tourism , mobilities , china , tribe , sociology , context (archaeology) , social relation , kindness , economic geography , geography , social psychology , advertising , psychology , anthropology , political science , business , archaeology , law
Within the context of Chinese culture and the theoretical framework of neo‐tribes, this study explores the mobilities of road travelers on the Sichuan‐Tibet Highway in China and explains their social interactions and group relations by using mobile ethnography and multi‐sited ethnography. It finds that social interactions during road travels are “easily meet, easily part.” However, between travelers and within travel groups, kindness and affective interactions are ubiquitous. The Chinese cultural concept “ yuanfen ,” which means serendipity in relationships, explains the logic of interaction. A road traveling neo‐tribe is also formed. The findings of this study enhance understanding of alternative travelers' social interactions and tourism experiences.