Author(s)

Chen Caixia ¹, Mustaffa Halabi Azahari ²

Affiliation(s)

¹ Graduate School of Urban Studies, Malaysia City University, Kuala Lumpur, 46100, Malaysia
² School of Urban Studies, Malaysia City University, Kuala Lumpur, 46100, Malaysia

Corresponding Author

Chen Caixia

ABSTRACT

As a key node along the "Maritime Silk Road," Quanzhou's ancient architecture blends diverse religious traditions, regional aesthetics, and traditional craftsmanship, forming a unique cultural symbol system. This study employs a design research methodology, conducting in-depth interviews with three core groups-designers, cultural scholars, and tourists-and combining grounded theory and semiotic analysis methods. The study identifies three value dimensions of Quanzhou's ancient architectural cultural symbols in souvenir design conversion: visual identification, craftsmanship inheritance, and spiritual symbolism. Additionally, the study highlights three practical challenges (loss of authenticity, functional compatibility issues, and cross-cultural misunderstandings) and proposes an innovative solution centred on a "technology-culture" dual-drive model. This research aims to provide methodological support for the creative regeneration of local cultural heritage and promote the sustainable dissemination of local symbolic systems.

KEYWORDS

Quanzhou Ancient Architecture; Cultural Symbols; Souvenir Design; Design Thinking; Symbol Transformation; Empirical Research

CITE THIS PAPER

Chen Caixia, Mustaffa Halabi Azahari, A Study on the Transformation Pathways of Quanzhou's Ancient Architectural Cultural Symbols in the Design of Tourist Souvenirs. Art and Performance Letters (2025) Vol. 6: 110-118. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23977/artpl.2025.060315.

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