On October 29, 2025, all students from the course Cultural, Creativity and Management in Chinese Cities, under the guidance of Cultural, Creativity and Management (CCM) Programme Instructor Ms. Wanqi Wan and Assistant Instructor Ms. Yi Xie, embarked on a learning and exchange visit to the Beishan Village in Zhuhai.

Group Photo

The Beishan Village is situated in Nanping Town, Xiangzhou District, Zhuhai City. It is a comprehensive community integrating residential, commercial, cultural, and educational functions. Originating from the site of a century-old village, it now hosts creative shops, art galleries, distinctive dining establishments, and boutique inns. Leveraging the emergence of the International Jazz Festival, Beishan Village deeply explores local culture, innovatively revitalizing elements like traditional herbal tea, and incorporates cultural creativity concepts from both sides of the Taiwan Strait and Japan, creating a Zhuhai cultural creative landmark rich in both humanistic charm and commercial value.

Snapshots of Beishan Village

Upon arrival at Beishan Village, students first freely visited distinctive venues such as the Old Object Warehouse, Beishan Cultural Hall, Yidi Temple Herbal Tea, and Yiwen Creative Space, engaging in spontaneous interviews with on-site staff. Students posed in-depth questions about the historical origins and cultural heritage of each venue, creative project operation models and innovative ideas, visitor consumption preferences, and market feedback, gaining further insight into the development model of Beishan Creative Base.

Students interviewing the person in charge of Yidi Temple Herbal Tea

Students visiting the creative space

Subsequently, students gathered at the Beishan Art Residence Hotel and had the opportunity for in-depth communication with Mr. Wen Xue, the manager of Beishan Village. Mr. Xue shared insights focused on the business models within the cultural creativity sector, using rich case studies and practical experience to guide students in understanding industry operation logic and development paths. Particularly memorable was his introduction of the concept of Longtermism, supported by practical examples from D&DEPARTMENT, vividly illustrating the importance and feasibility of sustainable business models, expanding students' industry perspective.

Mr. Wen Xue, Ms. Wanqi Wan, and students in group discussion

Finally, with Mr. Xue’s earnest message to "engage more with the world while cultivating aesthetics", this study concluded successfully. Students unanimously expressed that the activity not only provided them with a deeper understanding of the practical operation and development of cultural industries, but also offered beneficial new insights for their personal development paths.

Text: Cindy Shihan Zhuang, Doris Yi Xie  

Photo: Doris Yi Xie, Cindy Shihan Zhuang