Interpreting landscapes and landscape interpretation Insights from Chinese visitors’ encounters with Uluru

Interpretation has long been used as an elective educational tool to reveal, inform and inspire the meaning of an attraction. Landscapes also feature in interpretation – signs, talks, displays and multi-media presentations are often used to explain formation of particular structures and to communicate their relevance. To date, a majority of interpretation research has been conducted in Western contexts using Western-based principles established to accommodate visitors’ preferences and motivations. Identifying interpretation requirements of non-Western groups has not been well investigated. This paper explores the interpretive needs of Chinese outbound visitors through their lived encounters with an iconic Australian outback landscape – Uluru/Ayers Rock. Findings reveal that Chinese travellers often employ playful analogies, practice introspections and increasingly desire for scientific knowledge. The chronological timeline also links to Chinese travellers’ historical and cultural identities that could be considered for interpretive program planning