Shanghai, December 31, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Zhouzhuang Sound Living is a new way of life. In the future, an audio-based lifestyle will not be limited to just ancient towns and cafes. A large number of bookstores, cozy bars, flower shops, and even pet stores will also embrace this “Sound Living” lifestyle. And Himalaya FM may become the largest online audio content provider for these physical venues.
People who live amidst the dazzling, fast-paced urban environment often yearn for a moment of leisure to seek solace elsewhere, to unload the heavy mental baggage of daily life and quietly experience the warmth deep within their hearts. Over the years, Zhouzhuang has undoubtedly been one of the best places for people to slow down and find themselves. Here, there is not only picturesque ancient town scenery and uniquely crafted handicrafts, but also...ubiquitousbeautiful encounters. This year, Zhouzhuang has introduced yet another brand-new way of Sound Living.
Zhouzhuang Sound Living refers to delightful, soft-spoken radio broadcasts. Nowadays, when you visit Zhouzhuang, amid the flowing rhythm of life, around the corners of guesthouses, or at the transitions between old alleys, you’ll often hear these pleasant audio broadcasts lingering in the air and resonating in your heart. The flowing sounds and beautiful music convey stories of Zhouzhuang’s slow-paced life to visitors. This “sound landscape” of the tourist destination offers a brand-new five-sensory travel experience, pioneering an innovative audio-driven format in ancient towns. It has also attracted more cultured urbanites to explore Zhouzhuang, immersing themselves in its vibrant and narrated stories.
The Unique Charm of Zhouzhuang Sound Living
On December 27, the first annual Zhouzhuang Light Sound Carnival was held at Zhouzhuang Fang. Music producers, photography enthusiasts, cultural creators, and audio podcasters gathered in Zhouzhuang to attend an unprecedented audio feast and experience the slow life within Zhouzhuang’s soundscapes. The annual Zhouzhuang audio book, "Sound Living Family," was also unveiled that afternoon. Since its launch on the online platform Himalaya FM in February, Zhouzhuang Sound Living has accumulated nearly 300 stories, attracting the attention of nearly 50,000 followers and reaching an impressive total of two million plays among urban cultural 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 opened in Zhouzhuang, and the Zhouzhuang Sound Living radio station made its official debut within the scenic site. Over the following 40 weeks, 40 popular online broadcasters were invited to share their voices, spreading Zhouzhuang’s local culture to every corner of the ancient town. Among these broadcasters were men from Inner Mongolia, women from the Jiangnan region, ordinary civil servants, procurement officers from foreign companies, broadcasting and hosting students, and even homemakers… Coming from all walks of life, they shared a common passion for radio and an inseparable fondness for the water towns of Jiangnan.
“There is always love in stories.” This is the creed upheld by the broadcasters, who use their voices to warm every listener. Zhouzhuang, in turn, heals every weary or lost soul trapped in the fast-paced urban rhythm with its unique “slow” lifestyle. When the voices of the broadcasters meet Zhouzhuang’s scenery and slow-paced living, the voices are better conveyed, and the scenery is more beautifully complemented. Vivid and harmonious, they blend seamlessly, bringing joy and warmth to every traveler’s heart and offering solace to every soul in need of rest.
The Warmth of the Audio Café
Zhouzhuang Sound Living is not only a form of beauty but also a lifestyle attitude. Inspired by Zhouzhuang’s “Sound Living,” broadcaster Mai Tian launched his own show and later returned to Shantang Street in Suzhou to open a youth hostel themed around an audio radio station. He even upgraded the first floor of the inn into an audio café, where he records travelers’ stories using a microphone. He said it’s a meaningful and interesting endeavor. His vision is that when weary travelers arrive at his inn, they can not only enjoy the comfort of a cozy environment for physical rest but also find spiritual rejuvenation through the beautiful stories shared in the audio.
Industry insiders say that Zhouzhuang Sound Living’s radio station is gradually integrating into the local, authentic way of life. This “sound landscape” of the tourist destination promotes a brand-new five-sensory travel experience, attracting more cultured urbanites to explore the slow life under Zhouzhuang’s time and soundscapes. It立体ly interprets the brand concept that “there is a lifestyle called Zhouzhuang.”
This is a warm transmission of sound and also a new audio revolution. With the rise of numerous audio platforms represented by Himalaya FM, audio content is gaining more attention and love. Because the two share an inherently similar essence, after Zhouzhuang Sound Living, combining audio radio stations with soul-nourishing venues such as cafés and bookstores is not only an inevitable trend but also a transformation already underway.