Culture is the soul of modernization. As a 1,000-year-old town with profound culture and a place where Scenic Area of South-north Lake is sited, Ganpu has been committed to tapping its cultural resources and has laid a solid cultural foundation for modernization.

Since the beginning of this year, the Scenic Area of South-north Lake has become a new engine for culture and tourism development. It integrated the inheritance of intangible cultural heritages and tourism experiences to promote the high-quality development of culture and tourism.

Innovative use of intangible cultural heritages

New progress in culture and tourism development

A few days ago, an activity with the theme of “Intangible Culture Heritages: Seal Cutting, Paper-cutting and Rubbing” in Bi Hongshu’s former residence in Ganpu Village. This is the sixth event of this series of activities “Let’s Go to Ganpu Together”.

Bi Hongshu, a calligrapher expert at seal cutting during the reign of Kangxi Emperor of the Qing Dynasty. He spent four years recompiling Six Books, an important reference book of calligrapher and seal cutting, so that it can be passed one generation after another.

In memory of Bi Hongshu, a teacher explained the cultural background of the seal cutting and the differences between red and white characters on a seal, and taught the seal cutting techniques of rubber stamps.

It was the first time for students to learn how to master seal cutting skills, so everyone held the carving knife firmly, focusing attention on the seal surface and cutting awkwardly but carefully. One stroke, two strokes, more strokes, appeared slowly. They were fully absorbed in the seal cutting, calm and attentive. Sometimes they cut delicately and softly, but sometimes roughly and abruptly. On the smooth seal surface, the carved Chinese characters gradually came into view. Although the seal cutting technique was far from good, every one had a strong interest.

When the seal was made ready, they dipped the carved rubber seal into the paint and used it to stamp the Chinese character “澉” on the white paper, and the character  appeared. Then they used it to stamp the character on the hand-made paper-cuttings as spring festival pictures, unique art works with the character “澉” leapt to the eyes. With such an experience, every one knew better the art of calligraphy, seal cutting and the infinite charm of Chinese excellent traditional culture.

This year, “Let’s Go to Ganpu” in the form of “Stamping·Seal Cutting Study” was held to record local historical marks and familiarize visitors with the strong ceremony of stamping and the seal cutting culture.

It is reported that “Let’s Go to Ganpu” was held mainly in the Scenic Area of South-north Lake and Zhujiamen Culture Zone. A series of folk culture activities concerning tea, music, rolling lanterns and sachets were organized to make tourists experience stamping, intangible culture, local traditions and splendid history.

“Many intangible culture inheritors were invited to demonstrate traditional intangible cultural handicrafts. Some tourists said the activities were interesting, and they knew better the history of the ancient town and intangible cultural heritages after their participating in the activities,” commented a chief of Ganpu. So far, more than 1,000 tourists have been attracted here.

In 2024, this town will clarify the direction of its integrated development of culture and tourism to enrich the connotation of its culture industry. Based on intangible cultural heritages and connecting different scenic spots of the ancient town, “ Let’s Go to Ganpu” will last throughout the year. Moreover, the town will build a “second classroom” for students to extend in-class teaching to help minors achieve “cultural common prosperity” with the help of the famous people in Zhujiamen and local beautiful rural scenic spots.

The whole town-based tourism is thriving for its charming scenery and long history.

The ancient town takes on different looks for its history, culture and natural scenes. In recent years, this town has made full use of its characteristic culture to develop tourism, and its unique cultural symbols to explore what are the elements to attract tourists, and has urgently repaired the west gate and rebuilt the former residences of celebrities such as the Bi Residence and the Zhou Residence to further improve the ancient village of Ganpu in an all-around way.

In 2024, the town will further develop tourism industry, improve supporting facilities, construct Zhujiamen Business Street, Ganpu Tourist Service Center, etc. as scheduled, accelerate the research of the development of the ancient town and Liuli Market, fully activate available resources and plan tourist routes to attract more tourists.

To build a national 5A scenic area, the town will accelerate efforts to attract important industries and talent to build a benchmark center for cultural tourism, vacations and business reception in the Yangtze River Delta. The construction of New Century Senbo Resort, and the hotels Banyan Tree, Intercontinental Hotel and Blossom House will create conditions for the town to hold Jingshanli Music Festival, develop characteristic commerce, and construct Yujiawan Culture Theater and Food Center.

In the support of different scenic spots, beautiful rural areas, splendid culture and overseas Chinese culture, the town will develop more marketable tourist products and tourist routes such as introducing parent-child research, sports events, revolutionary education-based tourism in the future to build a culture and tourism town appealing to tourists anytime and anywhere.