Chinese Cities Clash for the 'Rock Capital' Crown: Shijiazhuang vs. Xinxiang in Cultural Tourism Battle

Rock and Rival Cities: The Battle for China's Music Capital Crown

In an effort to boost their local economies through tourism, two Chinese cities - Shijiazhuang in Hebei province and Xinxiang in Henan province – are fiercely competing to become the country's undisputed rock capital.

Shijiazhuang kicked off its Rock Hometown Festival on July 16th with a star-studded opening event that plans to run until October. The city is determined to host nearly 20 performances dly, especially on weeks, and will see local bands performing unplanned gigs on public transport like the subway.

With ties to China's early rock music scene, Shijiazhuang was home to two pioneering magazines: Popular Songs launched in 1986 and I Love Rock and Roll inaugurated in 1999. The city has also birthed renowned bands like Omnipotent Youth Society OYS, whose hit song Kill That Shijiazhuang Man, released in 2010, solidified the city's rock legacy.

As part of its promotional strategy, Shijiazhuang even filed for trademark registrations under education and entertnment categories for terms such as ROCK. ROCK. YOU and Rock City. The local government has used these marketing tools to highlight Shijiazhuang's unique identity, where the first syllable sounds like rock shi while the second one echoes home jia.

However, Xinxiang, a city in central Henan province, is not willing to yield without a fight. The local government has clmed that it holds similar credentials for the title of China's rock capital.

In WeChat posts and widespread discussions on social media platforms like Weibo, which has attracted over 100 million views, cities' efforts have sparked public interest and debate about who deserves the crown as China's rock hometown.

As Chinese cities increasingly leverage viral campgns and social media to revitalize their tourism sectors following recovery from disruptions, the competition between Shijiazhuang and Xinxiang exemplifies this strategic approach.

Key Points:

• Shijiazhuang’s Rock Hometown Festival: Features performances in public spaces like subway trns during weeks.

• Historical Ties with Rock Music: Includes contributions of magazines Popular Songs and I Love Rock and Roll.

• Omnipotent Youth Society OYS: A local band whose song Kill That Shijiazhuang Man, was a hit in 2010.

• Trademark Registration: The city has filed for trademarks related to rock music under education and entertnment categories.

These cities represent a broader tr of Chinese locales using innovative marketing strategies to attract tourists, demonstrating China's vibrant urban competition beyond its traditional tourist hotspots.
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