Abstract: Based on the CNKI database of papers related to heritage activation from 2002 to October 2020,using CiteSpace visual analysis software, combined with conventional statistical methods and qualitative analysis methods of literature, the research progress of heritage activation was analyzed. The results showed that, first, the research was divided into primary stage （2002—2005）, in-depth stage （2006—2010） and active stage （after 2011）. Second, productive protection, traditional villages and rural revitalization were the hot spots of heritage activation research in recent years; The most prominent keyword was living culture, the longest lasting was intangible cultural heritage, and the latest was traditional villages and digitization. Third, the government and enterprises were strong stakeholders, inheritance groups and local residents were weak stakeholders. Scholars mainly chose intangible cultural heritage, ancient sites and traditional villages, agricultural cultural heritage, industrial cultural heritage and linear cultural heritage as the activation objects, and adopted such activation methods as restoration and inheritance activation, tourism industry activation, high-quality characteristic products activation and digital activation. Future research on heritage activation shouldemphasize the introduction, crossover and integration of multi-disciplinary fields, pay attention to the interaction between stakeholders of heritage activation, the comparative study of multiple cased on the geospatial scale, and the research on spatio-temporal dynamic monitoring and sustainable maintenance mechanism of heritage activation, and pay attention to the activation efficiency.

Key words: heritage activation, research progress, CiteSpace