Fishing village finds new identity as artsy tourist hub

Breaking from the mold of a small, quiet village, Zengcuoan attracts tourists from around the world with its unique cultural and artistic charm.

Exemplified by the fishbone-shaped bridge near Huangdaonan Road, the village wears its shoreline connections and long history as a fishing village very much on its sleeve.

Wandering the five main streets and 18 alleys in the village, the temples and churches speak of local traditions of worship and the red-brick houses demonstrate the village's original style, originating from the Minnan culture of Fujian province.

The character Cuo generally refers to old-style homes with courtyards. In Zengcuoan, from its winding lanes to irregular houses that can be two or three stories high, the uniquely designed shops and local architecture inject vitality to the former fishing village.

Located in Siming district, the village is surrounded by beaches and is adjacent to the famed Xiamen University.

Several decades ago, the relaxed environment and peaceful, secure location of the village was conducive to the creative arts, and so many graduates from the Xiamen University would look to rent a house in the village to engage in artistic pursuits such as oil painting and sculpture, which brought contemporary art to the village in a big way.

Since 2012, local authorities began to develop the village into a tourism destination with features such as captivating music, traditional culture and a multitude of art galleries promoting an image of beauty in sync with tourists' existing ideas of Xiamen.

With the development of surrounding businesses, locals and merchants have created unique designs for their shops and buildings. Strolling through the village, various types of culture and arts can be seen throughout, ranging from workshops and restaurants to studios and specially designed family inns and hotels.

For example, there is a clay pottery DIY, or do-it-yourself store, a custom bracelet shop, and numerous tearooms that all provide visitors with delightful experiences.

Local specialties such as Wuxiang, a kind of meat fried in strips, and Tusundong and Shacha noodles, are noted for being both delicious and filling. In addition, seafood with beer is a favorite of both local villagers and tourists alike.

Zeng Taiyang, a 47-year-old local villager who rents out his houses and storefronts, said: "I was born to a fishing family and started to catch fish with my father when I was a child."

In the past, all the villagers made a living by fishing, but now he says: "Most of us have turned to making a living by renting out our houses thanks to the rapid development of local tourism."

He added that, "Because of the house is close to the seashore, tourists can enjoy a delightful view of the sea and the serenity of the sea breeze here."

Following the development of tourism in the area, the revenue of locals has grown to 10 times higher than that of a decade ago, he added.

"Despite the development of tourism, we still maintain normal prices for merchandise and accommodation and will spare no effort to protect these to ensure the long-term prosperity of our village."