%0 Conference Paper
%A Xie, Shuyi
%B ICOMOS 19th General Assembly and Scientific Symposium "Heritage and Democracy"
%C New Delhi, India
%D 2018
%F icomos:1965
%K local communities
%K authenticity
%K immigration
%K real-estate pressure
%K historic quarters
%K sustainable development
%K urban areas
%K social transformation
%K United States
%K cultural identity
%K cultural background
%K gentrification
%K Tourism
%K Town planning
%K United States of America
%K USA
%T Challenges to authenticity: Exploring the social transformations of historic Chinatowns in United States for sustainable urban development through the case of San Francisco
%U http://openarchive.icomos.org/id/eprint/1965/
%X The last decades have witnessed plentiful historic Chinatowns in the world which have been  becoming more diverse communities and facing challenges to authenticity. With the introduction of  authenticity and transformation on the worldwide historic Chinatowns, especially in United States, this  article focuses on the one in San Francisco, which could be dated back to the 1840s, and is the largest  Chinese community outside Asia, with the longest history in North America. While, as more and more  different groups of population with distinct cultural background settled there, this historic settlement, in  the increasingly open and super-diverse society, has raised public concern on how it could be  simultaneously authentic to Chinese heritage and also a multicultural space. Moreover, gentrification has  sent considerable shockwaves to this once stable ‘old world’, bringing out the climbing rent and potential  population displacement. Thus, it has been deteriorating into a touristic ‘thematic park’, resulting in a  decrease of its original inhabitants and habitability conditions, against the sustainable urban development.  Also, considerable local traditional community functions and small business have been struggling against  some contemporary living styles and accompanying new consumption patterns. Last but not the least, as  an aging community it is worthwhile to underscore the role played by the youth including the incoming  diverse settlers, especially involving in inheritance, nostalgia, belonging and responsibility. To conclude,  this article discusses the transformation and possible future of historic Chinatown of San Francisco, when  facing the above challenges to authenticity, and further explores feasible and effective strategies to retain  its historic authenticity within this increasingly diversified and fast-developing society for future  sustainable urban development, in order to inspire following exploration to solve the similar dilemmas in  other historic settlements in the world.