In Qingdao's historic Shinan district, a surge of cultural and creative stores is transforming the city's souvenir scene. Refrigerator magnets shaped like the Catholic Church, plush prawns, and miniature cans of Tsingtao Beer are outselling seashell necklaces, turning alleyway gift shops into unlikely engines for the city's tourism.

These cultural and creative products, rich in cultural connotations, attract tourists. The Catholic Church-themed magnet has sold over 500 units in a single store in one day, while the Qingdao Oldenlandia Water-themed magnet sold more than 5,000 units in a month.

Shieryue, who runs a design studio, explained that the products are meant to blend cultural outreach with economic growth. "A city gift distills local icons and historical memories into unique items," she said, adding that the core of cultural-creative goods is turning intangible symbols into tangible, consumer-friendly objects.

Qingdao's rich history provides ample material for creative transformation. Shieryue believes that the city's unique cultural symbols and emotional memories need deeper exploration through secondary or even tertiary creative processes. She calls for more designers and enthusiasts to join in, keeping pace with the times and continuously innovating.

Qingdao's new wave of cultural-and-creative designers is injecting fresh energy into the industry, merging cultural exploration with cutting-edge design. As they continue to push boundaries, they are set to energize the city's cultural-tourism market, fostering a two-way flow of creativity and prosperity between Qingdao and its designers.

Younger shoppers browse Qingdao's cultural-and-creative stores for their next purchase. [Photo/WeChat account: qdweishinan]