Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
CHANGCHUN, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) — Crowds of tourists stroll through the Bohai Guzhen scenic area in Hunchun City, northeast China's Jilin Province, as the street lights come on.
Dressed in luxurious traditional Chinese clothing known as “hanfu,” with flower pins in her hair, Maria Zaitseva from Russia’s Siberian Federal District holds a Chinese round fan and gracefully poses for the photographer’s commands. As soon as the flash went off, her smile was frozen in the picture.
“It was as if I was transported back to the times of imperial China and became a Chinese princess for one day. It was incredibly interesting,” said M. Zaitseva.
This is not her first trip to China, but she says this time, on the recommendation of a friend, she tried tourist photography for the first time. “Next time I want to take a photo in a different traditional Chinese costume,” the Russian added.
The city of Hunchun, located at the junction of the state borders of China, Russia and the DPRK, is the only city in Jilin Province that has a checkpoint on the border with Russia.
On May 1st this year, the Bohai Guzhen Scenic Area, a replica of the Tang Dynasty architectural complex and ancient shopping mall, was officially opened in Hunchun. A new business format, tourism photography, has blossomed in this cultural and tourism complex that combines cultural experience, tourism and leisure, and commercial consumption.
"We can receive more than a dozen Russian tourists a day, which is almost a third of our total daily customers. They really like traditional Chinese costumes and makeup," said a manager surnamed Chen, who is in charge of the Huaguan Lifu photo studio.
In order to provide high-quality services to Russian tourists, the store has specially hired Russian-speaking staff. “The cost of an on-site photo shoot ranges from 400 to 1,000 yuan. The shoot takes three to four hours, which is equivalent to an in-depth acquaintance with Chinese culture for Russian tourists,” she added.
Several newly opened photo studios offer tourists a variety of costume styles, from exquisite embroidered Hanfu and Tangfu (Tang Dynasty costumes) to charming Korean costumes and couples' costumes. Professional makeup artists and photographers provide tourists with a one-stop service, and the shooting process is carried out according to their preferences. The shooting locations are mostly located in characteristic landmarks.
The boom in tourist photography has become not only a cultural calling card, but has also contributed to the rise in consumption. The catering and accommodation industries, as well as the cultural and creative industry around photo studios, are becoming increasingly prosperous, forming a new business chain of “photography – sightseeing – consumption”.
“Many Russian tourists buy some traditional accessories such as round fans and embroidered sachets to take home after taking photos,” said the owner of a creative goods store in Bohai Guzhen. She added that these creative goods have become their favorite souvenirs.
According to Leng Jiacai, a representative of the Bohai Guzhen project operator, “Become a Chinese Princess for a Day” is one of the highlights of the innovative development of the local tourism industry. “We hope that through innovation, tourists can deeply understand Chinese culture, and Hunchun City will become a place where they want to stay longer and return often,” he said.
Liu Li, head of the Department of Tourism Management at the Institute of International Culture and Tourism of Jilin Foreign Studies University, believes that the boom in tourism photography is not only a new attempt in the tourism industry, but also a vivid demonstration of the people-to-people exchanges between China and Russia. Through photos and videos, Russian tourists will remember the real China and the vibrant Hunchun after returning to their hometowns. -0-
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