Yellow River News Network, Jincheng (Reporter Song Yueting) Golden leaves drifted like snowflakes, illuminating the ancient temple, while the soothing melodies of the qin resonated, nourishing the soul. On the afternoon of November 6, the “Ginkgo Rendezvous” Qinglian Concert—Fan Zhou's Guqin Special—took place at the Qinglian Temple Ancient Architecture Art Museum in Jincheng, Shanxi. Under the shade of a thousand-year-old ginkgo tree, master guqin player Fan Zhou plucked the strings, using the instrument's melodious tones to engage in a dialogue with historical heritage. He presented an audio-visual feast rich in artistic appeal and cultural depth to over a hundred guests on-site and tens of thousands of online viewers, injecting new vitality into Jincheng's integrated development of culture and tourism.
Melodies Echo Through Ancient Temple, Timeless Elegance Carries Cultural Legacy
This concert innovatively combined “guqin + ancient temple + ginkgo trees,” deeply integrating traditional art with natural landscapes and historical architecture. The event opened with the ethereal sound of the hand-flutter technique, followed by Master Fan Zhou performing nine classic guqin pieces including “Seagulls and Herons Forget Their Care,” “Song of Zhongnan,” and “Flowing Water.” The ancient, profound tones of the qin resonated with the temple bells, rustling winds, and falling leaves, creating a harmonious unity of heaven, earth, humanity, and the qin. This immersive experience allowed the audience to appreciate the unique charm of traditional Chinese culture.
During the performance, Mr. Fan Zhou spontaneously transformed the essence of qin music into calligraphy and painting works, which he presented to the Ancient Architecture Art Museum of Qinglian Temple and Shanxi Huihao Coal Safety Technology Co., Ltd. for their collections, further enriching the event's cultural significance.
Elegant Discourse, Philosophical Reflections: Artistic Vision Resonates
During the interactive segment, Mr. Fan Zhou engaged with both on-site and online audiences, sharing his artistic philosophy of “great sound is silent” and insights gained from twenty-six years of secluded cultivation in Mount Zhongnan. He emphasized that the essence of guqin art lies in “conveying the Way through sound,” using minimalist, ethereal melodies to express reflections on nature and life. Audience members actively posed questions, sparking discussions on guqin technique inheritance and innovative expressions of traditional culture. Mr. Fan Zhou patiently addressed inquiries ranging from the creative backgrounds of compositions to insights on playing techniques, offering substantial knowledge that greatly benefited attendees. Integrating his performance repertoire, he elucidated the cultural core of “unity between heaven and humanity” within guqin artistry. This allowed the audience to not only appreciate the instrument's tonal beauty but also to sense the spiritual depth underlying traditional art, resonating strongly with both online and offline viewers.
Cultural Tourism Integration: Revitalizing Traditional Culture
Guided by the Municipal Culture and Tourism Bureau and hosted by the Municipal Cultural Relics Protection Research Center, this concert was organized by Shanxi Huihao Coal Safety Technology Co., Ltd., Hehe Culture Institute, and Qinglian Painting and Calligraphy Institute. Utilizing a hybrid format of live performance and online streaming, it attracted hundreds of thousands of viewers to enjoy the event together. Through innovative expression, the event brought dormant cultural relics to life and allowed profound cultural heritage to reach wider audiences. It not only showcased Jincheng's rich historical and cultural legacy but also advanced the high-quality integration of culture and tourism, injecting new momentum into local cultural brand development.
In recent years, Jincheng has consistently pursued the dual objectives of shaping tourism through culture and highlighting culture through tourism. By deeply exploring historical and cultural resources and hosting diverse cultural events, the city has bridged traditional culture with modern life, continuously enhancing its cultural soft power and influence. The “Ginkgo Date” Qinglian Concert stands as a vivid example of Jincheng's integrated cultural and tourism development, providing strong support for inheriting China's outstanding traditional culture and advancing the upgrading of the local cultural and tourism industry.