Local residents' perceived authenticity, identity, self-improvement, and responsibility

As to the local residents, this study aims to investigate the mechanism of their perceived authenticity, localized identity, cultural self-improvement, and heritage responsibility. Based on relevant theory and literature review, we construct the following hypotheses:
H1: Perceived authenticity positively influences localized identity.
H2: Perceived authenticity positively influences cultural self-improvement.
H3: localized identity positively influences cultural self-improvement.
H4: Localized identity positively influences heritage responsibility.
H5: Cultural self-improvement positively influences heritage responsibility.

A simple random sampling approach was employed for data collection.

With empirical evidence from two well-known world cultural heritage sites (i.e., Kaiping and Yongding in China), the study identifies that local residents’ localized identity and cultural self-improvement, activated by perceived authenticity of the cultural heritage, significantly stimulate their heritage responsibility. Results further reveal the positive impact of localized identity on cultural self-improvement. The mediating effect of localized identity and cultural self-improvement and the moderation effect of two heritage sites are also confirmed.