Guangzhou is awaiting an explanation.

Author: Li Da Hua
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-10-01
Features: What has changed our lifestyle? Who guides the cultural trends of Guangzhou? This popular book, one of the volumes in the "Guangzhou: Culture and Lifestyle Series," attempts to provide comprehensive answers from four aspects: advertising, transportation, diet, and language. Regardless of how diverse the opinions may be or whether theoretical discussions have reached a clear conclusion, the lifestyle of Guangzhou people, who are pioneers in setting trends and leading the contemporary world, has been emulated by many. In the past two decades, countless people from all over the country have chosen Guangzhou, essentially choosing a lifestyle and, consequently, a cultural model. As the American urban architect Lewis Mumford said, "Cities are containers of culture." In this sense, the lifestyle of a city is its cultural model. Clearly, as a historical city with over 2,000 years of history, the charm and temperament of Guangzhou do not lie in the imperial grandeur of the three dynasties and ten emperors it once hosted, nor in the stern rituals and ceremonies, but in a series of contradictory combinations: the pragmatism, modesty, optimism, and leisurely nature of Guangzhou people, combined with their pioneering spirit of drinking the first bowl of soup; the marginality and non-mainstream nature of Guangzhou, contrasted with its role as a political and foreign trade center in modern China; the modernity of Guangzhou society and the lingering "ancient charm" of folk traditions. These conflicting elements coexist harmoniously, making Guangzhou society vibrant and diverse amidst mystery. Historically, this vibrant diversity has also been a characteristic of Lingnan. "To endure exile in the south is no regret, this journey is the most extraordinary of my life," if this poem was not expressed by the romantic and heroic Northern Song Dynasty poet Su Dongpo while banished to Lingnan, it at least reflects his appreciation for the extraordinary landscapes of the region. Indeed, from the perspective of northerners, south of the Five Mountains is filled with strange customs and dialects, and the customs are wild and untamed. Thus, those who come from the north often feel a sense of homesickness and a sense of loneliness after traveling thousands of miles, but once they settle down, they become as attached to their homeland as an old horse to its manger, even if they haven’t eaten three hundred lychees, they are clearly willing to "never refuse to be a Lingnan person for a long time." In reality, the marginality of Lingnan not only made it an extraordinary paradise outside the Central Plains but also an enigmatic combination that is hard to unravel: it is a land of miasma and smoke, yet also a treasure trove of abundant resources, "a gathering place of pearls, rhinoceros, hawksbill, fruits, and textiles." It is a region where the local dialects are difficult to understand, yet it is also a window through which people open their eyes to the world. In terms of political destiny and the revolutionary historical process, on one hand, Lingnan is far from the center of Confucian political ethics in China, and on the other hand, in modern times, it has inevitably become the cradle of China’s democratic revolutionary thought. In the more than two decades of reform and opening up, it has also become a pioneer in China’s economic and political reforms. It is precisely this complexity that has made "Lingnan culture" a "prominent field of study" in academic research in the past two decades, comparable to various regional cultures. However, in the study of Lingnan regional culture, there is an undeniable consensus about the "populace nature" of cultural methods—the subtle details permeating the fragrance of tea and flowers. Culture is defined by people. Here, people create culture, and at the same time, they are shaped by culture. Starting from the basic definition that culture is the sum of human spiritual and material life, Guangzhou culture is simply the comprehensive lifestyle of Guangzhou. In this comprehensive lifestyle, being the first to dare to take the lead and being proactive are not only the most important and prominent spiritual qualities of the people of Guangzhou but also striking behavioral characteristics. From history to the present, this spirit has led them to create countless achievements and the remarkable economic miracle of today, making Guangzhou the region with the strongest trends in China today. Moreover, a large number of facts have proven that the open Guangzhou respects ands people, pursues life and freedom, and is suitable for the creation and sharing of culture, as well as the survival and development of people. Therefore, it is more appropriate to say that culture is a guiding theory than to say that culture is the lifestyle of Guangzhou. The pursuit of quality in food, clothing, housing, and transportation, as well as the development of commercial activities and the stories of people in the city, can all be seen as manifestations and inheritance of "culture." People in culture understand Guangzhou and its people, and no cultural interpretation system is as thorough and comprehensive as lifestyle. This series aims to restore "culture" from theoretical frameworks and abstract descriptions to a concrete form, revealing the unique values, cultural spirit, and aesthetic tendencies of Guangzhou city and its people from the perspective of "culture and lifestyle." We focus on details and layers. It will vividly reflect the unparalleled richness of Guangzhou society. Therefore, this series is dedicated to the following themes: What has changed our lifestyle? Who guides the cultural trends of Guangzhou? In Volume 2, "Guangzhou Awaits Explanation," and Volume 3, "Guangzhou’s Thematic Life," the exquisite richness and pursuit of excellence of Guangzhou will be showcased respectively.