Comments on existing landscape classification

The author believes that the classification of landscape (tourism resources) represented by national standards has the following shortcomings:

1. The classification system is not closely related, and a scientific system has not been established.

The national standard classification system is not strict, which is manifested in the failure to reveal the internal relationship between large categories and small categories, so it is impossible to form a system. For example, the eight categories (A, B...h) only show their differences, but fail to see their interdependence, thus failing to establish a scientific system, such as a running account, such as enumeration of surname classification. This is quite convenient for statistics-related affairs, but it is not deep and scientific enough to establish a subject on this basis. First of all, among natural types A, B, C and D4, A (landscape) and B (waterscape) penetrate each other, so it is difficult to distinguish them strictly. If the theory of geomorphology is introduced, A and B can be collectively called landforms, which can avoid many contradictions. Secondly, it is inappropriate to confuse phenomenon with essence, result with cause. For example, geological landscape, AA belongs to geomorphology and AB belongs to geology. In fact, geology determines landform, and landform is the expression of geology. For example, faults and joints can form cliffs and rock walls. Thirdly, if A (landscape) and B (waterscape) are collectively called landforms, then the other six categories (C, D, E, F, G, H) are all dependent on landforms. Landforms disappear when they don't exist, such as forests to landforms, grottoes to plank roads to rock walls. There are similar dependencies in the same main class, such as gravity accumulation body to rock wall and rockfill cave to gravity accumulation body. Travertine and travertine in basic rocks belong to the appendages of springs and waterfalls, and stalactites are the appendages of caves. It is a logical confusion to juxtapose subjects and appendages in classification. Fourthly, there are many repetitions in this classification, such as (AAB Valley Tourist Destination), ACG (Canyon Passage) and ACH (Gully Land), which are difficult to distinguish. Fifth, sunrise, smoke clouds, faults, joints, folds, etc. They can be seen everywhere, and they cannot become scenic spots independently.

2. The level is unclear, and the categories of different levels are juxtaposed.

For landscape, scenic spots include scenic spots; For landforms, middle landforms include small landforms, and small landforms include micro landforms. Therefore, regardless of the scenery or landforms, their grades are extremely clear. However, in this classification, the levels are unclear and the categories of different levels are juxtaposed, which will lead to contradictions in application. For example, Danxia landform itself includes cliffs, solitary peaks, peaks and caves, and cliffs are related to waterfalls and hanging coffins. However, in this classification, they are juxtaposed with Danxia landform as a basic category, just like treating father and son as brothers, which causes systematic confusion. Therefore, this book advocates that the classification of scenery should be based on scenic spots, which naturally include lower-level scenic spots, and there is no need to mention scenic spots when classifying. Scenic spots are composed of different tourist routes, so the scenery is naturally divided into three levels, namely, tourist routes, scenic spots and scenic spots. Scenic spots play a pivotal role, so the classification is based on scenic spots.

3. Taking scenic spots as the classification target can no longer meet the needs of tourism.

A considerable part of this basic category of 153 belongs to the nature of scenic spots, but it does not have the characteristics of scenic spots. Such as joints, rock walls, rock cracks, rock-fill caves, falling into the water, etc. Some of them are transient scenes, such as DA (light phenomenon) in the basic category and DB (weather and climate phenomenon) in some basic categories, so it is difficult to become independent scenic spots. Taking the low-order scenic spots as the basis of landscape classification has comprehensive advantages, but there are the following problems: ① the classification is too trivial and messy, and there are too many categories for people to remember; (2) It can't reflect the overall characteristics of the beauty of scenic spots and can't meet the needs of tourists. For example, people go to Huangshan to see the beauty of the whole Huangshan Mountain and Lushan Mountain, not just a few single trees, a few strange rocks or a few joints in the rock; ③ Based on the classification of scenic spots, those comprehensive scenic spots can't find their own position in the classification table. Although there are seven basic categories in the comprehensive natural tourist destination (AA), if the scenic spots are put into them, the classification will be too rough to reflect its characteristics and beauty.

4. It is an abstract classification to classify according to the factors of beauty, regardless of the terrain.

Marx pointed out that abstraction is to extract one side of a thing for research, and the purpose of abstraction is to make the overall research deeper. Therefore, abstraction is not an end, but a concrete, comprehensive and historical study is the end and destination. The study of landscape must also follow this principle. It has been pointed out that landform is the carrier of all beautiful factors. If the landform does not exist, other beauty factors of the scenic spot will disappear. Scenic spots are based on landforms and are composed of other beautiful factors. Therefore, if we study the beauty factors other than landforms alone, it will be an abstract study, which will split the integrity of a scenic spot and make it fragmented, making it difficult to correspond to specific scenic spots. Take Huangshan Mountain as an example. The towering and steep peaks are the main body of Huangshan Mountain, and other beautiful factors such as strange stones, vigorous pine trees, unpredictable sea of clouds, beautiful flowers and sweet hot springs only increase the beauty of Huangshan Mountain. The classification of Huangshan scenic spot should be based on granite peaks and clusters, combined with other aesthetic factors. If Huangshan Mountain is classified as any one of the strange peaks, strange rocks, golden pine, sea of clouds and hot springs, the whole picture of Huangshan Mountain will be lost, but the peaks and clusters determine the inevitable existence of these beautiful factors and dominate them. However, at present, the classification of the national standard takes all kinds of beautiful factors as independent types of scenic spots, so it is an abstract classification, not a specific classification, and cannot explain the characteristics of a scenic spot.

5. After the overall division of scenic spots, there will be several kinds of contradictions that can be classified in the same scenic spot.

A scenic spot is composed of many beautiful factors, which can be the relationship between carrier and load, the relationship between cause and effect, or several parallel results caused by the same reason. Emphasizing the multi-factor combination of a scenic spot means emphasizing the comprehensiveness, unity and integrity of the scenic spot. When the integrity of a scenic spot is divided, it is "reasonable" to classify the scenic spot into any beauty factor. For example, hilly tourist destinations are good places to watch the sunrise and the sea of clouds, and it seems feasible to divide them into hilly tourist destinations or observation sites for the sun, the moon and the stars and areas with frequent clouds. Therefore, the classification of national standards is not accurate and rigorous, and there are many solutions and lack of uniqueness.