The Life Cycle of Zhou-Zhuang

The Life Cycle of Zhou-zhuang

Introduction

This essay aims at presenting historical information and development background of Zhou-zhuang, judging which stage of development it is at and evaluating its future development trend. We applied ButlerЎЇs Model of Life Cycle to evaluate Zhou-zhuangЎЇs current stage and future development. The essay will be developed into three parts. The first part will talk about Zhou-zhuangЎЇs exploration stage, the second part will be devoted to its development stage and the third part will be contributed to an evaluation on Zhou-zhuangЎЇs current stage in the life circle and its future development trend.

Exploration

Thanks to a famous painter Yifei ChenЎЇs canvas, The Memory of Hometown, Zhou-zhuangЎЇs Double Bridge in Misty Rain has been a famous image of Zhou-zhuang and gradually publicized this quiet village to the outside world since 1984. Zhou-zhuang, at that time, only had a population of 2000, most of which lived a life on planting rice. Their annual incomes seldom exceeded 800 Yuan. However, the development of Zhou-zhuang seems a little bit in the nature of things, because it goes very smoothly as well as speedily.

Development

In 1983, Wu Guanzhong, who was a very famous painter came to sketch in Zhou-zhuang, and he expressed his emotion:ÐŽoHuangshan Mountain concentrates the beauty of Chinese mountains and streams, while Zhou-zhuang concentrates the beauty of Chinese watery regions.ÐŽ± These words put great colors to Zhou VillageЎЇs fame.

In 1988, the first township tourism service company was established in Jiangsu province, and 38 sceneries of humanities in about 0.47 square kilometers have undertaken restoration and reconstruction.ÐŽoThe ancient town trio of Zhou-zhuangÐŽ±became one of the 16 hot itineraries which were promoted to international market.

In 1989, Shen Hall opened to public, and Zhou-zhuang Tourism Service Company issued entrance tickets for the first time with a price of 0.6RMB.

In the year of 1994, Zhou-zhuang developed to a wider extend, for Zhang Hall, Chengxu Taoist Temple, and Mi Building opened respectively. In the same year, the entrance tickets with images of Shen Hall, Zhang Hall, Chengxu Taoist Temple, and Mi Building printed on were published, and the price surged to 10RMB.

From the year of 1995, the number of tourists to Zhou-zhuang increased rapidly every year with an annually rate of more than 30%. Meanwhile, the incomes of residents there, which benefit from tourism, also increased at the rate of more than 30% every year.

In 1999, Zhou-zhuang received visitors about 1.25million both abroad and home; in 2000, the number was 1.5million; and in 2001, it increased to 2.08million.

Today, the maximum number of visitors to Zhou-zhuang per day has been able to achieve more than 30,000. It is reported that the tourist flow of Zhou-zhuang continuously surpasses 30% for five years.

Huge number of tourists visiting Zhou-zhuang is bound to result in huge gains.

In 1999, the totally income of tourism industry in Zhou-zhuang was 0.32billionRMB, account for 53% of GDP in the region.

In 2000, the overall savings of local people was more than 0.23billionRMB.

In the year of 2001, the income of tourism industry in Zhou-zhuang surged to 0.5billion.

Naturally, the local authority as well as the local people caught the chance timely. New sight spots, souvenir shops, restaurants, and vendors appeared on after another. The change happened to the tickets price is the most impressive. The price enhanced from 0.6RMB in 1989 to 60RMB in 2000. Commercialization becomes more and more visible.

From a present point of view, Zhou-zhuang is developing prosperously, however, will the development be