This past long weekend was Qing Ming festival here in China, and it gave people from nearby areas a chance to visit Shanghai. While in town, many like to pick up a few souvenirs -- although some complain such products look more or less the same wherever you go in the Middle Kingdom. As Shanghai works at becoming an international tourism destination, it has also been trying to improve the quality and originality of its souvenirs.
As Shanghai works at becoming an international tourism destination, it has also been trying to improve the quality and originality of its souvenirs.
At Shanghai Museum of Arts and Crafts in downtown Xuhui District, this coloring book went on sale three months ago and is proving very popular among tourists. The museum has already sold 5,000 and the book won first prize at last year's Shanghai Souvenir Design Competition.
This is new to me. In the past I bought things like cellphone decorations and postcards.
I like it because it shows Shanghai's local character.
Souvenir vendors say travelers to the city are different compared to the past. A survey released by the Shanghai Tourism Bureau shows that local characteristics rank first among the reasons tourists would choose to buy a certain souvenir. They would then consider portability, functionality and price.
As Shanghai works at becoming an international tourism destination, it has also been trying to improve the quality and originality of its souvenirs.
''We want more young people to join our R&D team, so we can combine their ideas with traditional craftsmanship," said Chen Yuqi, deputy director of Shanghai Museum of Arts and Crafts.
Designing new and smaller souvenirs can be frustrating and expensive. But one official from Shanghai Museum says the industry should still explore it because souvenir sales could replace income from existing sources over the long term. About 75% of the products in the museum's souvenir shop are designed by an in-house team. They include models of bronzeware, scarves printed with the museum's collection of paintings, cellphone cases, stationary items, as well as DIY kits for children. Last October, it officially launched a souvenir store on Taobao.com.
''A lack of originality is the main reason why people don't care about the souvenirs. Our annual souvenir sales revenue used to fluctuate between five and nine million yuan. But revenue jumped to between 30 million yuan and 40 million yuan after we started designing our own products," said Li Feng, deputy director of Shanghai Museum.
The Shanghai Film Musuem has also opened on online store selling animation-related products, and USB disks. Some of them have already sold out. Industry insiders say the best is yet to come.
