During the “Double Festival” period of the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day, the “Pay Homage to Emperor Yan, Pray for Blessings in Gaoping” citywide cultural and tourism campaign featured a wealth of exciting activities. Among the cultural and tourism gift packages, a cute and charming “Grandpa Yan” refrigerator magnet—with its auspicious symbolism, distinctive local cultural characteristics, and youthful design—became a heartwarming memento for tourists visiting Gaoping this time, adding a warm and vibrant new touch to the city’s cultural and tourism consumption market.
The “Grandpa Yan Di” refrigerator magnet in this cultural tourism gift pack was originally designed by Guyu Cultural and Creative Co., Ltd., a local enterprise in Gaoping City, and was distributed free of charge to residents and out-of-town visitors as a cultural and creative gift. “These small cultural and creative items embody historical heritage and festive blessings. We hope that through these approachable and charming items, every visitor and local resident who comes to Gaoping can take home a unique memory of the city,” explained Li Wei, the head of Guyu Cultural and Creative Co., Ltd.
A visit to the Guyu Cultural and Creative Studio reveals a dazzling array of cultural and creative products across a wide range of categories. By combining Gaoping’s natural landscapes with traditional solar term culture, the company has meticulously designed visually striking scenic postcards; by drawing on local architectural heritage, it has created the highly popular “Tiefo Temple Passage Permit” and art scarves featuring a 1:1 replica of the arched-eye wall patterns from Kaihua Temple; and has introduced a diverse range of cultural and creative products, including scented pouches, pendants, bookmarks, book-page lamps, umbrellas, pen holders, and thermochromic mugs. Sold both online and offline, these high-quality items have become important vehicles for showcasing the city’s image, promoting Gaoping’s culture, and driving the development of cultural tourism. Currently, designers are working full steam ahead to refine new products and continuously expand the range of local cultural and creative offerings.
Li Wei said, “We are currently designing a themed keychain that integrates Gaoping’s ‘Five Small Cities’ development philosophy with the distinctive features of ‘Colorful Agriculture.’ By incorporating vibrant visual elements and distinctive regional symbols, we aim to revitalize the classic Yan Di IP, organically combining the millennia-old cultural heritage of Yan Di with the modern urban landscape of Gaoping. This approach bridges traditional cultural heritage with urban development, showcasing the urban character of Gaoping in the new era.”
Established in 2021, Guyu Cultural and Creative Co., Ltd. is a cultural and creative design firm deeply rooted in the local community and dedicated to original work. Since its inception, the company has drawn upon Gaoping’s rich cultural and tourism resources, deeply exploring elements such as Yan Di culture, Gaoping’s ancient architecture, iconic city landmarks, and local folk customs, effectively transforming these cultural elements from creative designs into finished products. To date, the company has independently researched, developed, and designed over 60 cultural and creative products and secured more than 100 independent copyrights; these products have received widespread acclaim since their market launch. At the same time, the company actively participates in provincial and municipal-level cultural and creative competitions, cultural tourism promotion events, and other activities, earning numerous honors that fully demonstrate the innovative vitality of Gaoping’s local cultural and creative sector.
While deepening its commitment to cultural and creative R&D, Guyu Cultural and Creative participates in various large-scale city-wide cultural and tourism festivals and brand promotion events, continuously showcasing Gaoping’s cultural and creative strength. The company has exclusively customized refrigerator magnets, commemorative handbooks, and other items for student gift packages in Gaoping City, using these small cultural and creative products as a medium to convey the city’s warmth, “linking” the development of the cultural and tourism industry, and bringing Gaoping’s ancient architecture and intangible cultural heritage into the daily lives of the public and into the hearts of the younger generation. The company has also collaborated with local enterprises to create a 3D sculpture of “Grandfather Yan Di” and integrate it into corporate products, thereby supporting the companies’ brand development.
These small cultural and creative items embody fresh ideas, making the city’s cultural roots and identity easily accessible, allowing visitors to understand and appreciate Gaoping. Li Wei stated: “We will remain true to our original mission of local originality, delve deeply into the essence of Gaoping’s traditional culture, enrich our cultural and creative product portfolio, optimize design quality, and innovate forms of expression. At the same time, we will continue to participate in various activities such as urban cultural and tourism promotion and cultural outreach programs for the public. By collaborating with local enterprises to build a platform for cultural and creative cooperation and promotion, we will use small cultural and creative products to tell big stories and use new ideas to revitalize ancient cultural traditions, thereby infusing youthful vitality into the high-quality development of Gaoping’s cultural and tourism sector.” (Li Jinsha, Song Haifeng, Guo Shaoyu)