Nanjing · Jinling Town

Jinling Town is located on the western side of Niushou Mountain in Nanjing, east of Niushou Avenue, and north of the Ring Expressway. It covers a planned area of 5 square kilometers, with a total construction area of 780,000 square meters and a total investment of approximately 10 billion yuan. It is one of the main attractions in Jiangning, Nanjing. The core buildings of the town feature "Jinling Blue" glazed tiles, complemented by golden edges and rose-red doors, showcasing the elegant beauty of the Six Dynasties period. The Wenxin Hall is not only visually stunning but also houses digital films and interactive experiences inside. The Lingxiao Platform, the highest point in the scenic area, offers a distant view of Niushou Mountain and hosts musical performances in the evening. The Jieyin Platform and Lüxiao Garden stage captivating performances such as "Yun Zhi Zhen Yan" and "Chang Xiang Zhi," respectively, combining lighting, boats, and male-female duets to create a dreamy atmosphere.

Nanjing, a thousand-year-old imperial city that carries the misty rain of the Six Dynasties, has cultural genes imbued with the grandeur of "lanterns and stones," the ethereal beauty of "mist and water," and the refined elegance of "bamboo and flowers." The scene creation in Jinling Town is not a mere imitation of ancient styles but a cultural decoding journey using space as a medium. By deconstructing the aesthetic genes of the Six Dynasties into three symbolic systems—"lanterns and stones," "mist and water," and "bamboo and flowers"—and then translating and recombining them with contemporary design language, the town reconstructs a poetic realm that "embodies both ancient charm and modern vitality" within a blend of reality and illusion. The overall color scheme, materials, and style are determined based on the tone, while the architectural style is strong, with the atmosphere enhanced by optimizing the primary texture and elevating the secondary texture according to the building's inherent structure.

Character Setting Keywords: The grace and elegance of the Six Dynasties, the noblewomen of Jinling, witty and humorous, refined and wise, with a short yet radiant visage, and a delicate, slender figure.

Character Archetype: The spiritual core is modeled after the talented woman of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Xie Daoyun; the expressions, hairstyles, and attire are inspired by the pottery figurines of noblewomen from the Six Dynasties Museum and the depictions in historical portraits of noblewomen.

Based on preliminary reflections and synthesis, three styles of IP imagery have been conceptualized and illustrated: realistic style, chibi (Q-version) style, and original painting style. During the Six Dynasties period, paintings of noblewomen became an independent category within figure painting, giving rise to numerous renowned artists specialized in this genre. Concurrently, the style of noblewomen's paintings transitioned from depicting slender and delicate figures to portraying faces that were short yet radiant. Among these, the realistic style, drawing from the predominant trends of the Wei, Jin, and Southern and Northern Dynasties in noblewomen's paintings—namely, "slender and delicate figures" and "short yet radiant faces"—is deemed more aligned with the "elegant temperament" of Jinling Town. Consequently, it has been designated as the primary image and will be extended accordingly. The chibi style serves as a supplementary image, intended for more casual and entertaining contexts.

From the designer's perspective, the creation of Nanjing's Jinling Town is a modern translation of the cultural DNA of the ancient capital of the Six Dynasties. It aims to awaken the collective memory of Jinling's ancient charm through spatial narrative, the distillation of cultural symbols, and immersive scenes, while also constructing a contemporary poetic dwelling space that is "explorable, perceptible, and contemplative."

The trend seeks to pursue an atmosphere of high culture during the scene creation process while integrating commercial elements that are close to everyday life, achieving a harmonious coexistence of culture and commerce, and forging the soul of Jinling Town's business.

Delving deep into the thematic guidance of Jinling Town with the Six Dynasties culture as its backdrop, the town creates a strong sense of local cultural scene atmosphere through architectural style, landscape design, and cultural activities, emphasizing the diversity of business formats and the experiential nature of commerce, showcasing the prosperous beauty of Jinling Town;

Incorporating elements such as art installations, sculptures, and murals into the scenes enhances the aesthetic value of the space. Additionally, setting up sculptures, murals, or characteristic decorations with local features within the district can attract tourists and serve the purpose of cultural dissemination;

Coordinating with the venue to regularly host cultural events, such as traditional festival celebrations, intangible cultural heritage exhibitions, and cultural lectures, to enhance the cultural experience; rationally planning commercial formats and introducing commercial elements that align with the cultural theme. Commercial brands are designed from the outset to connect with the Six Dynasties culture, which can elevate the cultural value of the brand and strengthen the cultural identity of tourists and residents.

In spatial design, cultural elements and commercial functions are organically combined. Adopting traditional architectural styles while rationally arranging commercial shops and public spaces creates a district scene that is both culturally rich and convenient for shopping.

In the pursuit of worldly pleasures amidst elegance, the coordination of cultural temperament and commercial atmosphere is crucial. By deeply excavating cultural connotations, rationally planning commercial formats, ingeniously designing spatial layouts, and linking cultural and commercial activities, a harmonious coexistence of culture and commerce is achieved. This allows tourists to enjoy the cultural atmosphere while also meeting the needs of daily life, truly realizing the perfect combination of "elegance and worldly pleasures."

A timeless spiritual sanctuary, it is hoped to also become a momentary haven for the soul. Nanjing's Jinling Town, a contemporary distillation of Jinling's memory and the splendor of the Six Dynasties, passionately interprets the essence of traditional culture, seamlessly blending the elegance of the Six Dynasties with the vibrancy of modern life. Recalling the glorious scenes of Jinling, it vividly recreates the elegance of ancient banquets and gatherings, as well as the grace of renowned scholars.