Xinyi in the Central Hall — Qiao Family Courtyard

Author: Zhu Fan, Zhang Mingfang
Author Country: China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features:
Editor's Note: "People Speak of Shanxi" Cultural Tourism Series
The profound heritage of Shanxi culture and its outstanding cultural color in tourism have provided abundant resources for Shanxi publishers. Therefore, organizing and publishing the essence of Shanxi culture to showcase it beyond the borders of the province, and even to introduce it to the world, is an important strategic task of Shanxi cultural construction. It is also a glorious mission for Shanxi publishers, as well as the entire Shanxi cultural and publicity sectors.
At the end of last year, the Shanxi Provincial Propaganda Department held the Shanxi Cultural Promotion Week in Beijing, featuring exhibitions of ancient murals and traditional folk performances, both of which generated significant buzz and fully demonstrated the immense charm of Shanxi's historical culture. These advantages determine that cultural tourism should be the main focus of Shanxi tourism. For many travel enthusiasts, visiting Shanxi to see and experience it firsthand is a heartfelt desire. The purpose of the "People Speak of Shanxi" Cultural Tourism Series is to showcase the cultural characteristics and profound heritage of Shanxi's major tourist attractions to both current and potential visitors, thereby serving the broader development of Shanxi's cultural industry.
Data 1: Shanxi is one of the important birthplaces of Chinese civilization, boasting the largest number of above-ground cultural relics in the country. More than 70% of the existing ancient buildings in China are located in Shanxi. Additionally, the province has 119 key cultural relic protection units, the most in the nation. Major tourist attractions in Shanxi include the Yungang Grottoes in Datong, the Liao Dynasty Wooden Pagoda in Yingxian, the Hanging Temple in Hunyuan, the Buddhist Holy Land of Mount Wutai, the Ancient City of Pingyao, the Grand Courtyards of the Jin Merchants, the Hukou Waterfall, the Jiuzhou Guandi Temple, and the Yongle Palace in Ruijin, among numerous world-renowned historical and cultural heritage sites.
Data 2: The "People Speak of Shanxi" Cultural Tourism Series is designed to include 30 to 40 volumes. Currently, the first installment of 12 volumes has been published, primarily focusing on major tourist attractions from northern to central Shanxi. The books covering the western, southern, and southeastern regions of Shanxi are planned for release in the second and third installments. After the full series is launched, the goal is to establish it as a flagship product and a renowned brand book showcasing Shanxi's cultural tourism resources.
1. Authors of the series: The majority of the authors are young and middle-aged writers from Shanxi. They possess strong language skills, a solid foundation in history and literature, and a deep familiarity with the cultural heritage of the attractions they write about, making them well-equipped to complete their writing tasks.
2. Design features of the series: Each volume focuses on a specific tourist attraction or scenic area, emphasizing the description and narration of human history and natural landscapes. The writing style aims to enhance the author's personal flair while maintaining accuracy. Additionally, the appendix includes several functional sections:
① Local Highlights: Introduces local history, famous figures, and administrative characteristics.
② Intangible Cultural Heritage: Folk culture of the scenic area, such as Taoqing, Naoguo, and drum performances.
③ Famous Poems and Essays.
④ Explore More: Recommends related or nearby important cultural relic sites.
⑤ Architectural Craftsmanship.
⑥ Celebrity Chronicle.
⑦ Local Delights: Introduces local specialties.
⑧ Local Cuisine Stories.
⑨ Accommodation Guide.
⑩ Join Me on a Tour: Recommends relevant travel routes.
3. Artistic design of the series: The design (pursues elegance), featuring four-color printing with soft tones. It includes locally themed book covers, decorative borders, and other elements to enhance readability without disrupting the reading flow due to numerous illustrations. The text and images are integrated, with illustrations provided for most important scenes and structures. Each book contains over 200 illustrations on average, with a plate index at the end.
4. Market prospects of the series: From the outset of writing, the authors considered sales methods and channels. The initial plan is to sell the books primarily within the province at tourist attractions, hotels, and travel agencies, and to use them as promotional gifts for local government offices. Preliminary promotions have already led to interest from multiple bookstores, indicating a promising future.
Data 3: The publication of the first installment of the "People Speak of Shanxi" Cultural Tourism Series is just the beginning of this project. The second and third installments are planned to introduce an "Art Tourism" series related to "People Speak of Shanxi," focusing on Shanxi's spectacular architecture, sculptures, murals, dramas, and folk customs. The publisher's goal is to make the local into the national, and even the global. To let visitors from across the country and the world come to know Shanxi and its splendid culture.