A time-honored precinct in Quzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, has made itself a hot tourism attraction through the combination of traditional culture and modern elements.
Woven with three streets and seven alleys, Shuitingmen historic and cultural block offers Quzhou's best-preserved streetscape and a world of historical buildings.
The block has become a model of how China's cultural heritage is filling modern tourism through immersive experiences that bridge past and present.
At Shuitingmen, locals introduce the balcony show, a new way that blends tradition with modern fashion, transforming the balconies of old buildings into vibrant stages.
"A performance space like this offers the audience a unique experience. When we opened the first balcony, some viewers immediately found the performance refreshing and innovative," said Jin Ping, an organizer of the balcony show.
The charm of the old precinct attracted not only visitors from nationwide, but also international tourists including media professionals.
"It's very interesting to catch a glimpse of the old town and the way people used to live many, many years ago. It's very different from the modern face of Quzhou. What was fascinating for me were the balcony shows, different balcony shows and the gates. The city wall there is also very impressive at the end of the street," said Svilen Georgiev, editor-in-chief of InGlobo, a mix of print, digital, audio and live media based in Bulgaria.
"I like the energy of the streets, the food. It's very interesting to observe the people and how they interact with each other," said Maria Georgieva, co-publisher and marketing manager of InGlobo.
A crowd-favorite at the precinct is the live demonstration of Shaoyongfeng sesame cake making. The time-honored craft has been recognized as national intangible cultural heritage and passed down through generations.
"Today we visited this ancient Asian street, so we find it very vibrant, very cultural. It's very good to preserve the old ancient Asian culture here. I tried this moving around (when making the cake) and it was fun," said Riaz Burki, the news director of Pakistan Television.
"You won't (couldn't) see this before, we used to bake the sesame cakes indoors using charcoal stoves. Now we do it out here so more visitors can watch and get to know the craft behind it," said Ke Zhizeng, inheritor of the cake-making craft.
Historic block in east China city attracts global tourists with blend of ancient, modern charm
