Hongtong Ancestral Roots -- People Say Shanxi

Author: Zhang Xingjian
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-01-01
Features: The profound cultural heritage of Shanxi and the prominent cultural colors of Shanxi tourism have provided rich resources for Shanxi publishers. Therefore, organizing and publishing the essence of Shanxi culture to showcase it beyond the gates of the Nüzi Pass, and even to introduce it abroad, is one of the important strategic tasks of Shanxi cultural construction, as well as a glorious mission for Shanxi publishers, the entire Shanxi cultural community, and the publicity departments. At the end of last year, the Shanxi Provincial Propaganda Department held the Shanxi Cultural Promotion Week in Beijing ("Shanxi: Where Civilization Thrives"), which included an exhibition of ancient murals and traditional folk performances, both of which created a sensation and fully demonstrated the immense charm of Shanxi's historical culture. These advantages determine that the main projects of Shanxi tourism should be cultural tourism; and experiencing Shanxi firsthand is a wish for many travel enthusiasts. The purpose of the "Shanxi: Where People Speak of It" Cultural Tourism Series is to showcase the cultural characteristics and profound heritage of Shanxi's major tourist attractions for those who visit Shanxi or wish to do so, thereby serving the broader development of Shanxi's cultural industry.
Data 1: Shanxi is one of the important birthplaces of Chinese civilization, with the largest number of cultural relics in the country. More than 70% of the existing ancient buildings in China are located in Shanxi. Additionally, Shanxi has 119 major cultural relic protection units, ranking first in the country. The main tourist attractions in Shanxi include the Yungang Grottoes in Datong, the Liao Dynasty Wooden Pagoda in Yingxian, the Hanging Temple in Hunyuan, the Buddhist Mount Wutai, the ancient city of Pingyao, the grand mansions of the Shanxi merchants, the Hukou Waterfall, the Jiuzhou Guandi Temple, and the Yongle Palace in Ruicheng, among many other world-renowned historical and cultural heritage sites.
Data 2: The "Shanxi: Where People Speak of It" Cultural Tourism Series is designed to include 30 to 40 volumes, with the first of 12 volumes now published, primarily focusing on major tourist attractions from northern to central Shanxi. The books related to the western, southern, and southeastern regions of Shanxi are planned to be released in the second and third . 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 authors are primarily 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 tourist attractions they write about, making them well-equipped to complete their writing tasks.
2. Design Features of the Series: The series focuses on tourist attractions or scenic areas as thematic subjects, with a strong emphasis on descriptive and narrative writing about human history and natural landscapes. The personal style of the author is enhanced through vivid descriptions, while the appendix section is strengthened with several features:
① Local Highlights: Introduces local history, famous figures, and administrative characteristics.
② Intangible Cultural Heritage: Folk culture of the scenic area, such as Taoqing opera, Naoguo, and drum performances.
③ Famous Poems and Essays.
④ Explore More: Introduces related or nearby important cultural relic sites.
⑤ Architectural Craftsmanship.
⑥ Celebrated Personalities.
⑦ Local Delights: Introduces local specialties.
⑧ Local Cuisine Stories.
⑨ Accommodation Guide.
⑩ Join Me on a Tour: Introduces relevant travel routes.
3. Artistic Design of the Series: The design aims for elegance, with full-color printing and soft color schemes. Local-themed book covers and marginal lines are designed for easy reading, without disrupting the reading order or habit due to numerous illustrations. Illustrations are provided for most important descriptions and components, with each book featuring over 200 illustrations and a plate index at the end.
4. Market Prospects: From the outset of writing, the series considered sales methods and channels. It is initially planned to be sold within Shanxi, primarily at tourist attractions, hotels, and travel agencies, and as promotional gifts for local governments. After preliminary promotion, several bookstores have contacted the publisher, indicating a promising future.
Data 3: The publication of the first of the "Shanxi: Where People Speak of It" Cultural Tourism Series is just the beginning; the second and third are planned to be released after the main series, featuring an "Art Tourism Series" of "Shanxi: Where People Speak of It," which will introduce Shanxi's spectacular architecture, sculptures, murals, dramas, and folk culture. The publisher's goal is to make the local into the national, and even the global; to let tourists from across the country and the world become widely aware of Shanxi and its splendid culture.
The "Shanxi: Where People Speak of It · Shanxi Tourism Cultural Illustration Series" (first ) consists of 12 volumes, including A Detailed Look at Pingyao, Qiao Family Courtyard, and Confucian Merchant Family · Chang Family Manor, each featuring over 200 stunning images and detailed introductions to local history, folk culture, and other content, allowing readers to fully appreciate Shanxi's major cultural tourism attractions.
Professor Ge Jianxiong, Director of the Institute of Historical Geography at Fudan University, said, "The architecture, sculptures, murals, dramas, and folk culture of Shanxi are truly captivating. Even the embroidery and silver locks are irresistible." He enthusiastically called the series "Shanxi's geographical calling card."
Shanxi is one of the important birthplaces of Chinese culture, with a long and rich cultural history. Currently, more than 70% of the existing ancient buildings in Shanxi are located in the province. Shanxi has 119 major cultural relic protection units, ranking first in the country. Among them are numerous world-renowned historical and cultural heritage sites, such as the Yungang Grottoes, the Liao Dynasty Wooden Pagoda, the Hanging Temple, and the Buddhist Mount Wutai, as well as classic cultural tourism attractions like the ancient city of Pingyao, the grand mansions of the Shanxi merchants, and the Hukou Waterfall. However, due to the lack of a systematic "Shanxi Cultural Index Reader" until now, many people have a general understanding of Shanxi's cultural heritage but still lack detailed knowledge, as if seeing through a fog.
The "Shanxi: Where People Speak of It · Shanxi Cultural Tourism Book Series" fully showcases the major tourist attractions of Shanxi, serving as a three-dimensional index map for Shanxi tourism. The series is edited by the critic Yan Jingming, who said, "The authors of the series are mostly young and middle-aged writers from Shanxi, who are like local guides, deeply familiar with the authentic culture of Shanxi—this is also an important strategy for Shanxi in creating this 'local brand.'"