Abstract
This paper discusses the transformation of the interpretations of Red Tourism, which used to be developed within political structures, in an information-oriented Chinese society. Using the case of the national flag-hoisting ceremony in Tiananmen Square for study, this paper determined that a “pseudo-bottom up Red Tourism” is constructed through social media. Users believe that they can create a “sacred space” by themselves, whereas their actions on social media are actually manipulated and filtered by the platform in imperceptible ways to lean toward certain directions. Therefore, it can be argued that social media presently creates authenticity in a new format for Red Tourism by softening and concealing these power structures that earlier functioned ostensibly.
