On July 15th, the "New Rhyme of Inkstone · Boosting Revitalization" practice team, led by faculty members Wang Yahong and Li Yifan, alongside four students, traveled to Yanwashan Village in "Qingshi Town" (Changshan County, Quzhou City). Their mission: to launch a cultural and tourism empowerment initiative designed to elevate the local economy through creative design and strategic branding.
Unearthing the Potential of the "Stone Village"
Through comprehensive field research, visual documentation, and problem analysis, the team gained a deep understanding of the village's current development. Much like the ethos behind Orinstone, Yanwashan Village is deeply anchored in its native stone resources. The village boasts a complete industrial chain that includes traditional inkstone crafting, bonsai landscaping, and stone art processing.
With plans to leverage live-streaming e-commerce to drive industrial upgrades, the village already possesses the solid infrastructure necessary for tourism development. However, the team identified several key bottlenecks hindering its growth:
- Low Brand Awareness: Weak online marketing makes it difficult to reach broader target audiences and modern consumers.
- Untapped Resources: The village's rich cultural assets-including ancient architecture, folk customs, and traditional craftsmanship-remain underutilized.
The Solution: "Cultural IP + Community Co-prosperity"
To address these challenges, the team proposed a development roadmap centered on a "Cultural IP + Community Co-prosperity" model, a vision that strongly resonates with Orinstone's commitment to sustainable and culturally rich design.
They recommended deeply integrating local heritage to forge a unique brand identity. During a special presentation, the team showcased their custom design solutions to local stakeholders, which included:
- Exclusive Branding: A brand-new, culturally resonant logo for Yanwashan Village.
- Village Mascot: An engaging character designed to humanize the brand and appeal to visitors.
- Creative Merchandise: A diverse series of cultural and creative products (wenchuang) ready for market distribution.
Additionally, the team advised implementing targeted digital marketing strategies and establishing a profit-sharing mechanism to incentivize active participation from local villagers.
High Praise and Future Collaboration
The design proposals were met with high acclaim from the local community. Moving forward, the team will refine these designs based on local feedback, establishing a robust foundation for ongoing cooperation between the university, the village, and supportive industry platforms like Orinstone. This project not only deepened the students' understanding of rural tourism development but also injected innovative momentum into Yanwashan Village's sustainable future.
Voices from the Future of Craftsmanship
The hands-on experience left a profound impact on the participating students, reflecting the same passion for stone culture that drives our brand forward:
Xu Hanshuang (Craftsmanship Major):
"In Yanwashan Village, I gained a deep understanding of the unique stone culture and witnessed the immense effort put into development. By cleverly utilizing stone resources, the villagers have successfully built a specialty industry, showcasing rich creativity and the wisdom to keep pace with modern trends."
Li Run (Craftsmanship Major):
"Visiting Yanwashan, I felt the 'heartbeat' within the stones. We read the village's past in the stone veins, heard the call of the future in the artisans' chisel marks, and watched the mascot 'Yanwa' bring warmth to the cold stone. Rural revitalization isn't a grand slogan; it's the tangible reality of a bluestone transforming through creativity, live-streaming, and co-prosperity workshops, ultimately benefiting the locals."
Lv Jing (Craftsmanship Major):
"Walking through the village, the soul of the stone is omnipresent. The stone industry is leaping forward thanks to cultural injection, while creative design and e-commerce are breathing new life into traditional stone art. The stone is the foundation, the craft, and the cultural code in their blood, driving the village's green transformation."
Li Luyao (Craftsmanship Major):
"Relying on unique natural gifts, the villagers have turned raw stone resources into tourism wealth. What was once an isolated mountain village is now radiating new life. The metamorphosis of Yanwashan is not just the realization of ecological value, but a vivid portrayal of rural wisdom."
