Innovative cultural initiatives in Shaoxing and Shanghai attract tourists and stimulate local economic growth, with young visitors showing particular interest in distinctive cultural products.
Charming Lu Xun-themed cartoon dolls draw tourists to Shaoxing City in east China's Zhejiang Province, the hometown of China's modern literature pioneer Lu Xun.
Visitors can spot the dolls along the river, in museums, and at creative product stores throughout the city.
Since the beginning of this year, the Lu Xun hometown scenic area has welcomed 2.285 million visitors, 350,000 of whom visited during the summer alone.
Notably, over one-third of these tourists are between the ages of 18 and 35, underscoring the appeal of culturally enriching experiences to younger audiences.
"Shaoxing Lu Xun Memorial Museum has collaborated with local cultural and creative companies to develop products that appeal to young people, allowing Lu Xun's culture to reach a broader audience," said Yu Jia, deputy director of the museum.
Shanghai is exploring new ways to energize the cultural and creative sector by hosting product design competitions connecting companies with talented designers.
Originally used for restoring historic buildings, hand-painted enamel tiles have been repurposed into a range of cultural products showcasing Shanghai's landmarks after winning the 14th Shanghai Gifts Design Competition.
"Winning the award has garnered attention from major cultural landmarks in Shanghai, boosting our orders. Our designs now cover 300 of Shanghai's historic buildings," said the tile designer Wang Zhen.
Cultural creative products boost tourism, attract young visitors
Villagers and cadres in east China's Fujian Province said the latest inspection tour by Chinese President Xi Jinping has firmed up their confidence in further comprehensively deepening reform and promoting high-quality development in all aspects.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, conducted an inspection and research tour in the cities of Zhangzhou and Xiamen, visiting sites including a village, a revolutionary education base, a cultural heritage site under government protection, and an area of the Fujian pilot free trade zone.
On Tuesday afternoon, Xi first inspected Dongshan County in the city of Zhangzhou.
The village of Aojiao, located in Chencheng Town in the southeastern part of the county, faces the sea on three sides. Over the past few years, the village has embarked on a new path of development by leveraging the sea to revitalize and develop itself.
Xi took a walk to inspect the marine environment of Aojiao Bay and the appearance of the village, and inquired in detail about the trading of dried seafood and freshly caught seafood products.
"The General Secretary told me when he visited my house that the rural policies will be improved every year. In recent years, villagers have expanded local industries, including fishing, breeding, processing, and tourism, and have lived a happy life. I feel very excited to see the General Secretary again. Our development path has earned recognition from the General Secretary. We are quite confident about the future," said Guo Handong, resident of the Aojiao Village.
In 2023, the collective income of Aojiao Village exceeded 1.7 million yuan (around 238,629 U.S. dollars), and the per capita disposable income of villagers was 58,000 yuan (around 8,141.49 U.S. dollars).
Xi said he was glad to see the great changes that have taken place in the village compared to 23 years ago when he first visited the place as the governor of Fujian. His encouragement to villagers to move forward on the road of rural revitalization and shared prosperity struck a chord with locals.
"Life is getting better day by day. We believe that under the leadership of the General Secretary, our rural areas will see a brighter future, with farmers enjoying a more prosperous life. We will roll up our sleeves and get down to work," said Shen Qingmei, resident of the Aojiao Village.
"We must keep in mind the General Secretary's expectations, make a good use of marine resources, develop industries by leveraging unique local advantages, score new achievements on the road to rural revitalization, and lead the villagers to achieve common prosperity soon," said Lin Huazhong, official of the Aojiao Village.
Xi also visited the Gu Wenchang Memorial Hall, where he learned about the inspiring deeds of Comrade Gu Wenchang and was briefed about how revolutionary traditions were carried forward.
During the visit, he engaged in cordial exchanges with representatives of teachers and students from Gu Wenchang Academy of Leadership and asked the officials to deliver tangible results, make constant efforts for achievements in the long run, and build a good reputation in the hearts of the people.
At the Guandi cultural industrial park, Xi was briefed about local efforts in strengthening the protection of cultural heritage and promoting cultural exchanges across the Taiwan Strait. He stressed that cultural heritage is a precious legacy left by the ancestors and should be protected and carried forward.
"The General Secretary pays great attention to the protection of cultural heritage, which is a great incentive for us. We will strengthen the research and protection of cultural heritage such as Guandi-related culture in Dongshan, as well as its promotion, so that more people can feel the connotation of our excellent traditional culture," said Hong Yongde, local scenic area service center director.
On Wednesday morning, Xi inspected the Xiamen Area of China (Fujian) Pilot Free Trade Zone.
Covering 43.78 square kilometers, the area has seen 606 innovative measures rolled out, 142 of which were pioneered nationwide, since it started operation in April 2015. It boasts 31 pilot reform programs that have been promoted across the country.
Based on the achievements, Xi said, Fujian and Xiamen need to adapt to the changing situation, steadily advance institutional opening up, and contribute more to the expansion of high-level opening up.
On Wednesday afternoon, Xi was briefed on the work of the CPC provincial committee and the provincial government of Fujian, and made instructions for the province's future work, involving ecological conservation and high-tech innovation.
"General Secretary Xi stressed that it is necessary to deepen the construction of the national ecological civilization pilot zone. With regard to the protection of the Mulan River, the major river valleys, following up one blueprint, we have built a comprehensive governance system. Next, we will continue to comprehensively promote the reform of the ecological civilization system and strive to build a beautiful China where man and nature coexist harmoniously," said Ye Yuanfei, deputy Director of water conservancy bureau in Putian City.
"In accordance with the requirements of General Secretary Xi, we must work hard on institutional innovation to ensure the good connectivity between science and technology and industry, and further play the leading role of scientific and technological innovation in fostering new quality productive forces and striving to accelerate the Chinese modernization in Fujian," said Cao Rong, executive deputy director of Mindu Innovation Laboratory.
Villagers, cadres in Fujian determined to pursue high-quality development following Xi's visit
