Revenue surge from creative and cultural firms

Emerging businesses in creative design, cultural tourism and modern media are rising quickly in Shinan district of Qingdao in response to a range of local government incentives.

The seven industrial parks in Shinan alone have attracted more than 600 culture-related enterprises, part of the 3,300 in the sector that generated a combined profit of 6.9 billion yuan (1.1 billion) last year, up 18 percent from 2013.

The surge came as the district government launched a campaign to upgrade cultural parks by offering various incentives.

On Nanjing road, Creative 100 Cultural Industrial Park has made a name for itself among chic young people in Qingdao with its cafes, advertising and design studios and bookstores, as well as video and filmmakers, and graphic media operations.

The park claims to be the first diversified commercial creative industries cluster park in Shandong province.

Deng Bin, general manager of Creative 100, said the park has helped the cultural industry rise to be an engine for local economic growth.

"Since 2007, creative designs and services offered by enterprises in the park have generated 6.5 billion yuan in revenue and helped provide more than 3,900 jobs."

To its east lies the Qilu Culture Creative Park. Converted from a dilapidated factory, it has been reinvented into a site for startup enterprises in traditional Chinese medicine and healthcare, leisure tourism, creative design, Internet content and information technology.

Also in the neighborhood is the famed China Community Art and Culture Hotel, a vibrant venue for traditional Chinese culture, especially local Shandong culture.

As a boutique hotel decorated with a Chinese twist, it offers guests a place to learn tai chi, traditional massage, acupuncture, herbal treatment and calligraphy as well as to access its collection of artwork. Its guest rooms are even fit with ancient furniture.

Niu Hubing, founder and chairman of the hotel, said it is frequently engaged for various culture exhibitions and experiences.

"Last month, we played an important role in the Qilu Cultural Festival and now we are taking part in the ongoing Fushansuo Temple Fair," said Niu.

Lighting colorful oil lamps, prayers for peace and prosperity, and kids indulged with Chinese pastries were just a part of the 600-year-old Fushansuo Temple Fair from March 3 to 8 in Shinan.

xiechuanjiao@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 03/06/2015 page12)