Xinyi Central Hall: Qiao Family Courtyard

Author: Zhu Fan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2015-03-18
Features:
Editor's Note: "When People Speak of Shanxi" Cultural Tourism Series
The profound cultural heritage of Shanxi and the outstanding cultural colors of Shanxi 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 community and publicity departments. At the end of last year, the Shanxi Provincial Propaganda Department held the Shanxi Cultural Promotion Week in Beijing ("Viewing Chinese Civilization through Shanxi"), which included exhibitions of ancient murals and traditional dance and music 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. For many travel enthusiasts, visiting and experiencing Shanxi firsthand is a heartfelt desire. The purpose of publishing the "When People Speak of Shanxi" Cultural Tourism Series is to showcase the cultural characteristics and profound heritage of Shanxi's major tourist attractions to both those who visit Shanxi and those who 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, 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, Shanxi has 119 key national cultural relic protection units, the most in the country. 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 sacred site of Mount Wutai, the ancient city of Pingyao, the merchant mansions of the Jin merchant clan, the Hukou Waterfall, the Jiuzhou Guandi Temple, and the Yongle Palace in Ruiqing, among many other world-renowned historical and cultural heritage sites.
Data 2: The "When 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 related to the western, southern, and southeastern regions of Shanxi are planned for release in the second and third installments. After the entire 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, with a strong emphasis on describing and narrating humanistic history and natural landscapes. The writing aims to enhance the author's personal style while maintaining accuracy. Additionally, the appendices are designed to enhance service functions, featuring several sections:
① Local Highlights: Introduces local history, famous figures, and administrative characteristics.
② Intangible Cultural Heritage: Folk culture of the scenic area, such as Taoqiang, Naoguo, and drum performances.
③ Famous Poems and Essays.
④ Things to Explore: Introduces related or nearby important cultural relic sites.
⑤ Architectural Craftsmanship.
⑥ Biographies of Famous Figures.
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 (pursues elegance), featuring four-color printing with soft tones. It includes locally themed book covers, decorative borders, and other elements to facilitate reading without disrupting the reading order or habits due to numerous illustrations. The integration of text and images ensures that important scenes and structures are illustrated. Each book contains more than 200 illustrations on average, with a plate index at the end.
4. Market prospects of the series: From the outset of writing, the series considered sales methods and channels. Initially, it is planned to be sold within the province, primarily at tourist attractions, hotels, and travel agencies, and as promotional gifts for local governments. After preliminary promotion, several bookstores have contacted the publisher to express interest, indicating a promising future.
Data 3: The publication of the first installment of the "When People Speak of Shanxi" Cultural Tourism Series is merely the first step in the series' publication. The second and third installments are planned to be followed by an "When People Speak of Shanxi" Art Tourism Series, which will focus 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 tourists from across the country and the world come to know Shanxi and its splendid culture widely.