China News Service, Jincheng, March 24th: Title: Butterfly changes in the ancient village of Taihang Mountain: Many happy events in Suzhuang, the happy town

　　China News Service reporter Yang Jieying

　　Walking on the narrow stone road in Suzhuang Village, the big characters "Taihang Family, Happy Town Suzhuang" come into view, red couplets, red lanterns, red signs... wherever you look, you can see happiness everywhere.

　　Suzhuang Village is an ancient village in Gaoping City, Shanxi Province. It is a traditional Chinese village and a famous Chinese historical and cultural village. The village is surrounded by mountains and rivers, and there are more than 20 ancient courtyards from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The Shanxi-Henan ancient road that passes through the village bears witness to its former prosperity.

Suzhuang Village is an ancient village in Gaoping, Shanxi Province. It is a traditional Chinese village and a famous historical and cultural village in China. Photo by Guo Liang

　　Suzhuang Village has a profound origin of "happy events". According to the "Gaoping County Chronicle", in 445 AD, Tuoba Tao, Emperor Taiwu of the Northern Wei Dynasty, came to Xuushi (Gaoping) County to appreciate the Lianli tree in person. Suzhuang Village is where the Lianli tree is located. There is also a proverb among the people that "if you have a girl, marry her in Suzhuang Village".

　　Integrating "happy culture" into the tourism industry has become the "golden key" for Suzhuang Village to start rural revitalization.

　　Zhao Wei, deputy manager of Gaoping Guotou Cultural Tourism Industry Development Co., Ltd., introduced that at the beginning of 2021, the company cooperated with Suzhuang Village to develop ancient courtyards of the Ming and Qing Dynasties and surrounding ancient streets around Chinese traditional wedding customs and "happy culture", and named them "Happy Town" begins the evolution of this ancient village.

　　"The matchmaker, the sedan chair, the wedding team... I was deeply shocked when I saw such a simple and unique wedding performance. This is the charm of China's excellent traditional culture." Visitor Zhang Fangfang said that she hopes to hold her own wedding ceremony at "Xizhen Suzhuang" in the future wedding.

Integrating "happy culture" into the tourism industry has become the "golden key" for Suzhuang Village to start rural revitalization. Photo by Guo Liang

　　Focusing on the traditional "happy culture", Suzhuang Village has implanted the traditional "Eight Rites and Four Festivals" and other folk culture into the tourism industry, unlocking the combination of tradition and fashion, classical and popular, and realizing the revitalization, upgrading and innovative integration of the ancient village courtyard.

　　Taking advantage of the popularity of "Xizhen Suzhuang", 53-year-old He Suling set up a stall in front of her home to eat "tourist meals". "This year during the Spring Festival holiday, we set up stalls in the 'Xizhen Suzhuang' scenic spot, mainly selling haggis, meatball instant noodles, steamed buns, etc. After excluding costs, our daily income is more than 3,000 yuan (RMB, the same below)." He Suling said, The family plans to open a farmhouse to receive tourists from the scenic spot.

　　Zhu Jianmei, a villager in Suzhuang Village, has two children at home. She used to make a living by doing odd jobs, but now she is a waiter at the wedding hall in Suzhuang Village. "My current job is close to home, I can take care of my family, and my income is pretty good."

Xizhen Suzhuang Wedding Hall. Photo by Guo Liang

　　Shen Fei, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group of Gaoping City Culture and Tourism Bureau, said that in recent years, Gaoping City has realized the revitalization and utilization of ancient villages through "cultural empowerment", and traditional ancient villages have taken on new vitality. Taking Suzhuang Village as an example, during the Spring Festival this year, the scenic spot received 360,000 tourists and achieved operating income of more than 12.7 million yuan. On February 14th alone, 59 couples registered their marriages in Suzhuang Village and booked Chinese-style weddings and wedding banquets.

　　Today, Suzhuang Village is making every effort to create a Chinese wedding tourism and traditional Chinese wedding destination, as well as a Chinese "happy culture" experience place. More and more couples are coming to "Happy Town Suzhuang" to register for marriage, and more and more tourists are experiencing the "happy" celebration culture and atmosphere. (over)