Abstract: Homestays, as an important tourism product, are not only an innovative business model in the tourism industry but also a key driver of rural revitalization. Understanding the evolution of the homestay concept is essential for revealing its core essence and characteristics, laying the foundation for both theoretical development and practical applications. This paper reviewed the development of homestays both domestically and internationally, tracing their origins through historical analysis and a review of government documents and relevant literature. The paper aims to clarify the core consensus and intrinsic nature of the homestay concept. It proposes using “home” as a methodological framework to reexamine the relationship between homestays and the home. This approach seeks to reconstruct the ontology and epistemology of “home” within the context of homestays. By positioning “home” as the central theme, this paper addresses academic discussions surrounding the essence and significance of homestays. Finally, by shifting the focus of the research, the paper constructs a framework for homestays through three dimensions: considering “home” as an object, as a goal, and as a source of meaning. This framework aims to deepen the understanding of homestay research within the Chinese context and broaden the scope of related research themes.

Key words: homestay, home, home as a method, as a method, new perspective