To address the lack of cross-regional model comparisons and the weak correspondence between problems and strategies in ancient town tourism research

this article examines typical ancient towns in Jiangsu

Zhejiang

Shanghai

and Chengdu. From the dual perspectives of operating and investing entities and renewal objectives orientation

this article examines the development and operation models and characteristics of ancient town tourism. Through in-depth cross-regional case studies

it identifies common challenges in current ancient town tourism: insufficient coordination among multiple stakeholders in development and operation

weak risk mitigation capabilities

and limited cultural transformation and a significant homogenization of experiences within distinctive development paths. Based on these findings

this article proposes optimization strategies from the perspectives of development model

operational capacity

and planning

aiming to provide a reference for achieving sustainable development through the "symbiosis of culture and tourism" in ancient town tourism.