Against the twin backdrop of the digital economy and rural revitalization, the tourism spaces of traditional villages increasingly exhibit assemblage processes in which heterogeneous elements co-constitute and become deeply embedded in consumption practices. Examining the interaction mechanisms among these elements is crucial for reconciling heritage preservation with development and for advancing sustainable renewal and revitalization. Using Liugou village as a case, this study mobilizes assemblage theory and employs semi-structured interviews and participatory observation to interrogate the generative logic and evolutionary mechanisms of rural tourism consumption. The findings show that: (1) The assemblage of rural tourism consumption integrates human actors-tourists, governments, villagers-with non-human elements such as cultural resources, digital platforms and material infrastructures; their interactions not only transform consumption patterns but also activate cultural resources, becoming an endogenous driver of village renewal. (2) Consumption has evolved from linear to decentralized forms, as tourists' "evaluation-feedback-sharing" participation and platform guidance jointly reconfigure interactional dynamics and spatial configurations, enabling the living use of cultural symbols and expanding regional consumption networks. (3) Four mechanisms-desire generation, structural organization, relational negotiation and meaning reproduction-operate in a nested, mutually reinforcing way to produce a cyclical and generative system of consumption dynamics, thereby coordinating heterogeneous elements and reproducing culture within the constraints of historic spatial layouts and heritage assets, and ultimately facilitating renewal and the living transmission of traditional villages. The study extends assemblage theory in rural tourism research and offers a framework and practical insights into how consumption-driven dynamics can foster renewal and revitalization in traditional villages.
LIU et al. (Thu,) studied this question.