Musicians hit the right note to attract homestay tourists

A number of well-known guitarists were invited to Sheye Jilai homestay to help guests tune into the relaxed peninsula way of life. They staged duets and solo performances for tourists at the homestay in Wenling county-level city, Zhejiang province.

The move was part of local authorities' efforts to introduce original music and classical guitar to homestays in Wenling, Taizhou, to promote rural tourism and drive high-quality integration of culture and tourism.

Leveraging the abundance of stonehouse hostelries and related cultural heritage, Wenling has signed a cooperation agreement with several guitarists to achieve a "harmonic resonance" between art and tourism.

Before coming to Wenling, Lin Huanqi, one of the guitarists, had some uncertainties about the project.

He says he didn't know exactly how the homestay and the musicians would work together.

However, as soon as he set foot in the city, he was impressed by the serene and ethereal atmosphere of Shitang town, which he says is suited to a classical guitar soundtrack.

The scenery and relaxed way of life inspired him, Lin says.

After returning to the homestay from a tour of the city, Lin delivered an original composition about Shitang in just two hours.

Lin says that he hopes, through this collaboration, he can produce an original music album for Shitang. At the same time, he is looking forward to contributing to the transformation of local homestays into independent public cultural spaces through such performances.

Local authorities are aiming for the cooperation to go beyond accommodation and showcase the cultural value, humanistic spirit, regional characteristics, and local customs behind the homestays.

The goal is to provide tourists with an artistic experience and inject new vitality into the cultural and tourism industry of Wenling, according to the city's culture, radio, television, tourism and sports bureau.

"The value of music lies in emotional resonance. Behind each original composition, there is the musicians' observation and understanding of local culture," says an official with the bureau, adding that using music to showcase local cultural and tourism resources is undoubtedly more effective than traditional promotion methods.

The temperament of guitars aligns well with the city's homestay ambience, featuring ocean views and island scenery, according to the bureau.

The city will encourage the creation of original music exclusively for Wenling tourism and the area's homestays by guitarists, as well as the establishment of music studios.

Xiang Fei who runs the Zaihaibian (By the Sea) homestay is full of anticipation for further cooperation with the musicians.

"There are many points of connection between guitar performances and the traditional maritime culture of Shitang," Xiang says.

"Collaborating with the guitarists not only adds a highlight to the homestay, but also provides guests with a richer experience."

This initiative is also expected to contribute to the overall development of an artistic coastline in the city.