China Daily Global Edition (USA)
Local art form aims to raise awareness
was constructed in 2017, such as a Western restaurant and an exhibition and sales room for imported goods. There were many vacant houses due to villagers moving out, Jin Yongyong, Party secretary of Zishang, says.
After the completion of the auditorium, he drew a blueprint of a modern complex for culture, tourism and entertainment with the auditorium at the center, and made a plan to attract business and investment. With the support of overseas Chinese, with origins in the village, tourism resources, including a flower field, a restaurant and a Westernstyle street began to spring up in Zishang, and the auditorium has been given a new role — the service center for tourists.
Jin says in future he plans to apply advanced technologies such as 5G and facial recognition in the village’s management and operation in a bid to build Zishang into a “modern village with international hues”.
Seeing how cultural auditoriums are changing their daily life, people in Zhejiang have shown a growing zeal for public affairs and a stronger sense of belonging.
Hou Yuexiang is one of the volunteers in Qingnianfang community of Wenzhou. Besides offering care and love to neighbors through voluntary services, the 70-year-old and her 85 peers make up a team in charge of the daily management of the community’s cultural auditorium.
“The auditorium, along with a library and a gym, were built for us and the activities enrich our cultural life,” says Hou, “which makes it necessary to ensure the orderly operation of these facilities by ourselves.”
She adds: “As a volunteer, I am so glad to see that people from the community, young and old, appreciate and enjoy our services in the auditorium.”
Chen Chaonan, a resident of Nan’ao village in Ruian, says she and her children are frequent visitors to the local cultural auditorium. “People of all ages are able to have fun there due to the multiple choices for entertainment, including chess games, toys, books and fitness equipment.”