Engage-Encounter-Enrich-Envision: A Framework and Its Practice for Preserving and Revitalizing Historic Towns in China’s Underdeveloped Regions

China leverages its rich cultural history and strategically integrates urban-rural convergence with the preservation of historic towns to foster regional development, emphasizing a “dual-circulation” economy. This approach is exemplified by a case study in Tuocheng, a 2230-year-old town constrained by its location within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Applying the “endogenous community building” theory, the “Tuocheng Creative Initiative” was proposed to revitalize the town by examining local resources, engaging stakeholders, and promoting talent cultivation. The initiative has led to practical design activities and the establishment of a collaborative participation mechanism, garnering recognition as a UN Sustainable Development project. The research team’s “Engage-Encounter-Enrich -Envision” design pathway offers a framework for preserving and revitalizing similar historic towns in underdeveloped regions.