Promotion of Slow City

"Slow city" makes the city more suitable for life

August 28, 2013, Wenzhou Municipal Tourism Bureau convened experts, scholars and industry players to discuss how to build "slow city Wenzhou". Long lived in foreign "slow city" in the Italian-Chinese Cultural Exchange Association Honorary President Chen Yunqiu describes the construction of the slow city blueprint is desirable. "Slow City Wenzhou" the concept of this new urban model, so that many of the experts attending the meeting for the good, and have to promote the slow city movement in Wenzhou, to create a "slow city Wenzhou" to come up with ideas. Wenzhou Municipal Tourism Bureau Director Zhang Chunjie said, tourism is life, is the experience, is the realization. Slow life will be a future trend, and the slow life derived from the "slow tour" is the perfect combination of tourism and leisure, it meets the requirements of the development of tourism, at the same time, it is also in line with the needs of the general public, is a value of life experience.

The "Slow City" movement originated in Italy.

We live in an era where speed is the most important thing, and efficiency and speed are wrapped up in our constant running around, and the whole world is squeezed into one word: fast. When the leisure of nature is more and more transported away from us, when depression, sub-health began to envelop us around, when violent emotions spread over the society ...... this abnormal situation, has allowed many people to reflect on their own quality of life. They have begun to advocate a philosophy of slowing down the pace of life. This idea is becoming more and more popular, and then formed a new trend, which is the "slow city movement". The "Slow City Movement" originated in Italy in 1999.

In the past decade, the movement has spread to more than 200 cities, towns and communities in more than 130 countries around the world. A "slow city" is an urban form that slows down the pace of life. According to the rules of the World Alliance of Slow Cities, a town, village or community must have a population of less than 50,000, pursue a green lifestyle, be anti-pollution and anti-noise, support urban greening, support traditional handicrafts, and be free of fast-food areas and hypermarkets.

Slow city is not slow efficiency, it is the pursuit of a sustainable development model; slow city is not to abandon modern technology, it is fond of a high degree of harmony between man and nature. Its core is to advocate pure life, protect local characteristics, say no to the homogenization and standardization that accompanies globalization, and emphasize the return to the essence of life and the meaning of life in a leisurely pace of life.

The "slow city of Wenzhou" reflects a desire for livelihood.

Thirty years after the reform and opening up, Wenzhou people have created one miracle after another by virtue of the spirit of "dare to be the first in the world, especially entrepreneurial". Behind the halo of the world's attention, many negative issues are also revealed, affecting people's lives: over-consumption of resources, the environment is under increasing pressure: Wenzhou's high prices are close to those in Beijing, Shanghai and other first-tier cities, so that many people in Wenzhou all their lives in order to bills, houses and busy; car ownership continues to increase, so that Wenzhou seems to have become congested overnight, Wenzhou's cost of living is getting higher and higher! High ...... All of this is not knocking on our hearts and minds, let us think and reflect on the original mode of production. Wenzhou whether it really should slow down?

As the saying goes, if you want to go fast, you can't go fast enough, and if you pursue speed too much, you may compromise on quality. The shortcomings exposed by Wenzhou can be a good reason to slow down. "Slow" does not just mean slowing down relative to the fast pace, it means a better use of time, as well as the exquisite life and taste of the appeal.

Wenzhou's economic development in the past, mainly dependent on resource consumption, rely on low-cost labor and foreign exports, this crude export-oriented development mode costly, volatile, has been unsustainable. Therefore, Wenzhou to change the mode of economic development, industrial transformation and upgrading has been urgent. So the introduction of "slow city" or will become a necessity, can "slow" out of the new ideas.

The fight for a higher GDP is just a process of development, the ultimate goal of development or the people's standard of living and quality of life, if the "slow" down to improve the happiness index of the people of Wenzhou, we have no reason not to "slow"! Down it? What's more, sensible "slow", not negative, but another positive way. Just as to the galloping horse on the reins, to the speeding train with the brakes, Zhang ZhiDu, put in and out freely. Wenzhou has entered the industrial transformation and strategic upgrading of the important time, at this stage, the development can no longer simply the pursuit of efficiency, should be sustainable development, environmental quality improvement as the main goal of urban construction. This time "slow" down, by slowing down to think, compare and select, screen, for good and fast development to provide better realistic conditions.

"Slow city" in Wenzhou's realistic feasibility.

The concept of "Slow City Wenzhou" does make people long for it, but the concept of slow city originated from the western developed countries, the development of slow city in Wenzhou is realistic feasibility? The concept of slow city appears in the present Wenzhou is the right time? In the era of rapid industrialization and business development, can this "slowness" be sustained? At the conference, Chen Yunqiu, Honorary President of the Italian-Chinese Cultural Exchange Association (ICCEA), argued that the development of a city requires a pluralistic philosophy, and that it requires economic and social harmony and sustainability. For the sake of the soft power of the city and the realization of inclusive growth, the Slow City precisely provides ideas for the sustainable development of Wenzhou. By analyzing the successful cases of slow cities in different cultural contexts, he pointed out that the development of the slow city movement in Wenzhou is realistic and feasible.

The municipal government's strategic goal of building "three lives of harmony and happiness in Wenzhou" has been identified as Wenzhou's "Twelfth Five-Year Plan" development goal, which is a strategic plan to implement the scientific concept of development, fully grasp the characteristics of Wenzhou's current stage of development, and adapt to the new expectations of the people. Make the strategic deployment. With the slow city advocating the construction of a harmonious living environment between man and man, man and nature, the requirements to reduce noise and traffic flow, increase green space and hiking area, the development of local industries, the application of environmental protection science and technology and cultivate the human spirit of hospitality, etc., emphasizing the leisurely pace of life in the return to the essence of life, taste the meaning of life, and opposing waste, high pollution, high energy consumption and unhealthy habits and so on, have a different and similar, are They are all aimed at creating a livable and happy city for the people. Under the strategic decision of building "three lives of harmony and happiness in Wenzhou", we can combine the concept of slow city with the core connotation, plan a slow city model suitable for Wenzhou, and utilize the network platform of the "International Slow City Alliance" to create boutique projects that can be regarded as the world's tourism brand, so that Wenzhou can become an international tourist destination. The project will enable Wenzhou to become an international slow city tourism city.

Some experts believe that the slow city movement is to protect local characteristics and say no to the homogenization that accompanies globalization, so it can be said that the slow city is also a city of characteristics, and Wenzhou also has the cultural foundation to become a slow city. Wenzhou is a famous town of Dong'ou with splendid culture and developed handicrafts, historically known as "the hometown of all kinds of work", and all kinds of handicrafts were once very prosperous in history. Today walking on the street in wenzhou, can still see the family workshop type handicraft production. These handicrafts give Wenzhou distinctive regional characteristics. And Wenzhou has many distinctive small towns and ancient villages. They have their own long history, bright culture, beautiful landscapes, characteristic minority gatherings, slow pace of life cast their own unique slow travel scenery. For example, Yongjia has preserved a large number of ancient villages with similar forms and distinctive features with traditional architectural styles. These ancient villages are not only skillfully combined with topography, landscape and mountains, but also endowed with a strong cultural flavor of farming and studying. Here, people can feel the heritage of local culture, taste the local food and snacks, appreciate the local crafts and souvenirs and so on. All of this has laid a solid material foundation for the creation of the distinctive "Slow City Wenzhou".

While it will take a long time to build Wenzhou into a distinctive slow city, what is more important than getting the title of "slow city" is to advocate a mode of life, to build a new concept of life under the slow city opportunity, and to advocate healthy, safe and green concepts of life in the slow city. Integrating the body and mind into nature is a way to realize a slow life. This is conducive to the Wenzhou people who have always regarded time as life and money to stop, free from the rapid development of society, slowly enjoy life now. Enjoy the beauty of family, love and friendship, trees, flowers, clouds, streams, waterfalls and nature in all its forms and colors, and the spiritual replenishment of art, travel and reading.

Reprinted from Wenzhou People, Issue 9, 2012

Slow down, get rich

-Chen Yunqiu talks about the commercial value of the slow city movement

There is a kind of city model called slow city. Chen Yunqiu is the chairman of the China Development and Trade Group in Dubai, UAE, the honorary president of the Italian-Chinese Cultural Exchange Association, and a volunteer and promoter of the Slow City movement. Over the past ten years, he has traveled in all directions, from China to Europe and now to the Middle East, and his footprints have covered almost all corners of the world. He has discovered a model for more livable cities: a unique sense of place, with good food, a healthy environment, a sustainable economy and a leisurely pace of community life. It's called the "slow city".

At the time of the interview, he also said he wanted to find a quiet place to talk. After picking a few places, he finally settled on the Zhongtongren Museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine on Oujiang Road. In the ancient environment, we Chin with tea, high melon seeds try to live a "slow life" addiction. Here, Chen Yunqiu responded to my questions about slow cities with wisdom, spontaneity, meticulousness and ease, and shared with me all the interesting stories of his "slow city life". He said that in the Italian town of Bra, there are many volunteers on the street, whenever they see passers-by in a hurry, they will go up and ask each other whether they need help, if they don't need help, they will advise passers-by not to walk too fast. The small town of Ledro in England is as quiet as a baby sleeping, without a single car or any noise in the town. Playing in this town, you need to prepare the transportation, just a pair of suitable shoes, rely on the "11 road" car, with four or five kilometers per hour, slowly walk through the town, can let your heart sink down, let you feel the whole world with the slow down. The village of Marihnsf in Germany is the smallest slow town in the world, with only 260 people. Every "slow town" in the world is unique.

He said the slow city movement has spread from Europe to the rest of the world. More and more cities are ready to join or are joining the Slow Cities Coalition. These cities are joining the Slow City model for a variety of purposes, some for better protection of local culture, some for the development of special tourism, and some for the pursuit of sustainable development, but no matter what the purpose is, joining the International Federation of Slow Cities to become a "slow city" has invariably boosted the local tourism economy. It can be said that the slow city movement has formed an international network where different cities can exchange their ideas on building slow cities and share successful classic cases. Each city is practicing the slow city philosophy in different ways according to its own characteristics.

Slow down and get rich.

Chen Yunqiu said that many people have a misunderstanding of slow cities, thinking that they are simply slowing down . In fact, there are many connotations of a slow city, including the implementation of a healthy diet and lifestyle, the cultivation of local culture, the protection of local customs and cultural heritage, etc. In short, the slow city is not to turn the clock back to the past, so that people can live a "life in the museum", the slow city is just to seek a balance between modernity and tradition to help people live a better life. The first is to make sure that you have a good understanding of how to use the Internet and how to use the Internet in a better way.

The slow city concept is not simply about sacrificing efficiency for a comfortable life. In many places, it is the uniqueness of the slow city itself that creates economic value and improves the quality of life. For example, in the small city of Bula, the leisurely dining and tranquil atmosphere has attracted a large number of domestic and foreign tourists. Tourism, in turn, has boosted the development of business, and its sales of handmade chocolates and green food are highly sought after by tourists, with retail sales rising by 15 percent annually. On weekends, specialty cheese makers from all over Europe gather here, and food festivals are held all around the city with exhibitions of rich products.

China's first international slow city, Gaochun, has also seen a dramatic change in its reputation as a "slow city". From being a little-known town in Jiangsu Province, it has become a hot spot, and because of the "Slow City" it has brought new opportunities for development. Per capita income has increased from 4,000 yuan to 10,000 yuan. Sixty percent of this income comes from local specialty industries. As the concept of the slow city continues to promote, more and more tourists come to the "slow city", agricultural and sideline products can be bought at home at a good price. Sweet potatoes in the past 100 pounds only a few dollars, a box of 20 pounds can be sold 60 yuan,. More tourists, Nongjiale also rose, many of the original young people working outside, back to work or start a business. All of this is the "slow city" to bring economic benefits. The slow city movement is changing the business model of many places.

The green mountains have been transformed into golden mountains.

Globalization has facilitated the development of cities, but it has unknowingly erased the characteristics of each city. Cities around the world are becoming more and more alike. After three decades of development, Wenzhou's original character of "small bridges, flowing water and homes" has disappeared and been replaced by a series of high-rise buildings that have risen from the ground. At the same time, Wenzhou surrounding Wuzhen, Zhouzhuang, Tongli, etc., but because of the preservation of the original Jiangnan water township style, unique pattern, attracting tens of thousands of tourists flocking every year, creating wealth. Wenzhou why can not Wenzhou's green water and green mountains into gold and silver mountains with it? Why can't Wenzhou foster the environment to make money?

Wenzhou's tourism resources are extremely rich, tourist attractions in a wide area, density, variety, set of mountains, sea, rivers, lakes, islands, natural landscape and cultural landscape. But why can't such good resources bring the corresponding tourism economy? The main reason is that Wenzhou tourism products are too single, ignoring the culture, entertainment, leisure and recreation needs to Wenzhou tourism, not let the tourists "slow" down to enjoy Wenzhou's green water and green mountains, resulting in tourists can only participate in Wenzhou in a short period of time sightseeing excursion activities, thus leaving only the ticket economy.

So, in Wenzhou to advocate and build a slow life, whether it is to improve the quality of life of the public, or the development of the tourism economy is not only feasible, and very necessary.

Transferred from the Wenzhou People 2012 ninth

December 14, 2014, Wenzhou Slow City Leisure and Tourism Federation was formally established, from all walks of life in our city, more than 350 people who are keen on the "slow life" to participate in the inaugural meeting. Chen Yunqiu was elected as the first president. According to reports, as early as August last year, the City Tourism Bureau has convened experts, scholars and industry professionals on how to create a "slow city of Wenzhou" to explore. The term "slow city" originated in Italy, aims to advocate the civilization of the countryside, return to the essence of life, it is not only on the fast-paced modern life of an even, but also on the local nature and culture of the deep taste and discovery. At present, the world has more than 170 "slow city", China currently has two "slow city". (From Wenzhou Metropolis Daily reporter Zhou Xiaoling reported)

December 14, 2014, Wenzhou Slow City Leisure and Tourism Federation was formally established, from all walks of life in Wenzhou City, more than 350 people keen on the "slow life", participated in the inaugural meeting. Italy-China Cultural Exchange Association Honorary President Chen Yunqiu was elected as the first president. "Slow city" originated in Italy, aims to advocate the civilization of the countryside, return to the essence of life, it is not only the fast-paced modern life of an even, but also on the local nature and culture of the deep taste and discovery. At present, there are more than 170 "slow cities" in the world, and China has also developed two, namely Gaochun District in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, and Yanyang Town in Meizhou City, Guangdong Province. Wenzhou is one of the earliest cities in China to introduce the "slow city" culture. "The pace of modern life is too fast, a little slower and quieter is the starting point for a true 'poetic habitat'." Mr. Chen Yunqiu said that after the establishment of Wenzhou Slow City Leisure and Tourism Federation, it will make positive efforts and contributions to the implementation of the concept of "slow life", the creation of a national civilized city, as well as the cultivation of tourism and leisure culture industry. (Reported by the National Tourism Administration of the People's Republic of China)