Dujiangyan's ancient town rejuvenated with anime culture

A vibrant anime character parade during the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday from Oct 1 to 8 turned Guanxian ancient town in Dujiangyan, Sichuan province into a youthful cultural hub, showcasing how traditional Chinese culture is finding new expression through contemporary creative forms.

The eight-day holiday coincided with the opening of Zhenshui Wanshi Cultural and Creative Park, a 12,861-square-meter complex that has become a catalyst for blending anime culture with traditional Chinese aesthetics. 

The park integrates creative design, product development and cultural experiences, housing innovative ventures including Lingran Workshop, Cat Tea House, and Shihua Tingyu Photography Space.

Lingran, founder of Lingran Workshop, creates works inspired by Chinese historical tales. One of her popular designs, “Drunken Concubine”, reinterprets a parrot owned by Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and his favorite consort Yang Yuhuan through anime aesthetics combined with traditional opera elements.

“As post-2000s cultural and creative practitioners, we are committed to integrating anime culture with traditional Chinese heritage through contemporary approaches,” Lingran said. “Our aim is to help more young people understand and embrace both forms of culture through this creative fusion.”

At the Cat Tea House, customers can enjoy Chinese tea while keeping company with cats for relaxation. Meanwhile, the Shihua Tingyu Photography Space offers hanfu (traditional Chinese attire) rental services and diverse themed sets for photography enthusiasts.

During the holiday, the park also hosted multiple themed events and displayed over 1,000 types of creative products — from handicrafts and design items to art pieces — all well received with tourists.