Urban shrinkage vs heritage protection: Exploring the dilemma and promotion path of built heritage protection under urban decline

Renewing cultural heritage has emerged as a vital strategy for promoting economic development and cultural advancement worldwide. However, safeguarding built heritage in the face of urban shrinkage and decline amid population loss and economic downturn poses significant challenges. China Liaoning Province is in this dilemma. This research delved into the historical and cultural districts of Liaoning Province, conducting semi-structured interviews with 53 residents. Employing grounded theory, the study constructed a theoretical model of built heritage conservation under urban shrinkage. The study found that urban shrinkage worsens heritage decline through three mechanisms: (1) population outflow weakens community networks, leading to the neglect of heritage sites and loss of cultural identity; (2) economic downturn and market failures disrupt capital flow, causing businesses to deteriorate and heritage value to diminish; (3) inflexible policies fail to adapt to the reality of shrinkage, resulting in unsustainable heritage preservation practices. Therefore, coping with continued urban shrinkage is a core challenge for Liaoning Province to achieve effective protection of built heritage, optimize planning management, and promote high-quality urban development. This study introduces a ‘smart Shrinkage-oriented’ approach to spatial regeneration, offering a theoretical framework and practical recommendations for managing heritage resilience in Liaoning Province and other shrinking cities.