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Journal of Desert Research ›› 2026, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (4): 12-21.DOI: 10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2025.00160

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Research on tourism image perception of yardang landform in Qaidam Basin based on UGC data analysis

Xuemin Gao1(), Zhibao Dong2, Hao Li3, Zhifang Liu4   

  1. 1.Department of Tourism Management,Jinzhong University,Jinzhong 030619,Shanxi,China
    2.School of Geography and Tourism,Shaanxi Normal University,Xi'an 710119,China
    3.School of Economics and Management /, Taiyuan Normal University,Jinzhong 030619,Shanxi,China
    4.School of Geographical Sciences, Taiyuan Normal University,Jinzhong 030619,Shanxi,China
  • Received:2025-09-14 Revised:2025-10-27 Online:2026-07-20 Published:2026-08-27

Abstract:

The tourism development of the yardang landform in the Qaidam Basin has long been constrained by its relatively remote geographical location. Simultaneously, its tourism image lacks distinctiveness compared to other yardang destinations, resulting in low market recognition. Therefore, it has become imperative to scientifically reshape its tourism image. This study employs Python-based data mining techniques to collect user-generated content (UGC) from major domestic travel platforms (January 2019 to July 2025). Using natural language processing (NLP) technologies such as the TF-IDF algorithm and LDA topic modeling, the tourism perception image of the Qaidam Basin yardang landform is analyzed across three dimensions: cognitive image, affective image, and holistic image. The results indicate: (1) The highest TF-IDF values are concentrated on geomorphological feature nouns, namely “yardang” (0.052 438) and “water” (0.032 429). The cognitive image comprises five thematic dimensions: geomorphological tourism resources, tourism evaluation, tourism experience, tourism facilities and services, and tourism activities, with “water yardang” and “Mars-like landscape” being the core cognitive elements. (2) In the sentiment analysis of tourism perceptions for the yardang landform in the Qaidam Basin, positive emotions accounted for the highest proportion (79.2%). The water yardang landscape serves as the primary source of these positive sentiments. Negative emotions constituted a relatively small proportion (15.3%) and were mainly concentrated in areas such as inadequate tourism facilities, insufficient services, and disorganized management. Neutral emotions represented the smallest share (5.5%). (3) The holistic image exhibits a three-tier structure: the core layer is “water yardang”, the intermediate layer is “the holy land for road trips in Northwest China”, and the peripheral layer includes extended images such as “the most Mars-analog place on Earth” and “Devil's City”.

Key words: yardang landform, tourism image, user-generated content (UGC), Qaidam Basin

CLC Number: