Shanghai, December 31, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Zhouzhuang SoundLife is a new lifestyle. In the future, an audio-based way of living will not be confined to just ancient towns and cafés. A large number of bookstores, cozy bars, flower shops, and even pet stores will also embrace this “SoundLife” lifestyle. And Ximalaya FM is likely to be the largest online sound content provider for these physical venues.
For people who often live amidst the dazzling, fast-paced urban environment, there are always moments when they need to steal a bit of leisure, seek solace elsewhere, unload the heavy mental baggage of daily life, and quietly experience the warmth deep within. And Zhouzhuang has undoubtedly been one of the best places over the years for people to slow down and find themselves. Here, there is not only picturesque ancient town scenery and uniquely crafted handicrafts, but also ...omnipresentbeautiful encounters. This year, Zhouzhuang has introduced a brand-new SoundLife experience.
Zhouzhuang SoundLife refers to pleasant, soft-spoken audio broadcasts. Nowadays, when you visit Zhouzhuang, amid the flowing streams, around the corners of guesthouses, and in the transitions between landscapes, you’ll often hear delightful audio broadcasts drifting through the air and resonating in your heart. The flowing sounds and beautiful music all convey stories of Zhouzhuang’s slow-paced life to visitors. This “sound landscape” of the tourist destination offers a brand-new five-sensory experiential tourism, pioneering a new audio-based experience in ancient towns. It has also attracted more artistic urbanites to explore Zhouzhuang and immerse themselves in its vibrant, sound-rich stories.
The Unique Charm of Zhouzhuang SoundLife
On December 27, the first annual Zhouzhuang Light Sound Carnival was held at Zhouzhuang Fang. Music producers, photography enthusiasts, cultural creatives, and audio podcasters gathered in Zhouzhuang for an unprecedented sound feast, experiencing the slow life within Zhouzhuang’s soundscapes. The annual Zhouzhuang audiobook “SoundLife Home” was also grandly unveiled that afternoon. Since its launch on the online media platform Ximalaya FM in February, Zhouzhuang SoundLife has cumulatively told nearly 300 stories, attracting close to 50,000 followers and garnering up to two million plays among urban artistic audiences.
Offline, in Zhouzhuang itself, the charm of sound continues to unfold. In March of this year, the country’s first scenic area audio café was established in Zhouzhuang, and the Zhouzhuang SoundLife audio radio station officially made its debut within the scenic site. Over the following 40 weeks, 40 popular online broadcasters were invited to share their voices here, spreading Zhouzhuang’s local culture to every corner of the ancient town. Among these online hosts were men from Inner Mongolia, women from the Jiangnan region; ordinary civil servants, as well as corporate procurement officers; students majoring in broadcasting, and homemakers ... from all walks of life and diverse backgrounds, but united by a shared passion for radio and an indelible affection for the Jiangnan water towns.
“There is always love in the stories.” This is the creed upheld by the broadcasters. They use their voices to warm every listener, while Zhouzhuang, with its unique “slow” rhythm, heals every soul lost or fatigued by the hurried urban pace. When the broadcasters’ voices meet Zhouzhuang’s scenery and slow life, the voices are better conveyed, and Zhouzhuang’s vistas are beautifully complemented. Vivid and harmonious, they blend seamlessly, delighting and warming the hearts of every traveler, while also embracing every heart in need of rest.
The Warmth Delivered by the Audio Café
Zhouzhuang SoundLife is a kind of beauty and also a way of life. Inspired by Zhouzhuang’s “SoundLife,” broadcaster Mai Tian, upon returning to Shantang Street in Suzhou, opened a youth hostel themed around an audio radio station, and upgraded the first floor of the inn into an audio café where he records travelers’ stories using a microphone. He says it’s something both fun and meaningful. His vision is that when weary travelers come to his inn, they can not only enjoy the physical comfort of a cozy environment, but also find spiritual rest in the beautiful stories shared through sound.
Industry insiders say that the Zhouzhuang SoundLife audio radio station is gradually integrating into the local, authentic lifestyle. This “sound landscape” of the tourist destination promotes a brand-new five-sensory experiential tourism, attracting more artistic urbanites to explore Zhouzhuang’s time and the slow life within its soundscapes, vividly interpreting the brand concept that “there is a kind of life called Zhouzhuang.”
This is a warm transmission of sound, and also a new sound revolution. With the rise of numerous audio platforms represented by Ximalaya FM, audio content is gaining more attention and love. Because the two share an inherently similar essence, after Zhouzhuang SoundLife, the combination of audio radio stations with soul-nourishing venues such as cafés and bookstores is bound to be an inevitable trend—and a transformation already underway.