0x0 Prologue
- Castle
Imagine lying in Alice’s castle one day, sipping coffee with a hint of red wine in the morning, gazing at pirate ships docked by the riverside, and faintly hearing Haruki Murakami’s words, “Love is like a foghorn.”
- Reality: There truly exists such a fairy-tale world in real life. I’ve passed by, visited, and observed it.
0x1 Passing Through the Fairy-Tale World
- The First Time
On my way to marvel at the monumental project 817, I caught a glimpse of the bizarre architecture through the window. It was only later, via Gaode Maps, that I learned of this place.
- Again
Passing by once more, I planned to stay overnight in Jiangcheng, but it’s no longer the Jiangcheng depicted in Jiangcheng (and accommodations aren’t cheap). Uniform Wanda Plazas, and an empty Starbucks where a barista performed a slow-drip coffee brew.
- Children's World
Following a wedding convoy, I arrived at this fairy-tale world. The parking lot was filled with amusement facilities—cable cars, Ferris wheels, pendulum rides, bungee jumping, and more. But I’ve grown too timid even for pirate ship rides (though I’m not that old, my fear of being jolted has increased). I recall the last time we adults rode the pirate ship; the kids were calmer than us.
This wasn’t a holiday, so the amusement park was mostly empty, with a few elderly strolling about. Even though a ticket costing 68 yuan covered all rides, I wasn’t interested. At 9.9 yuan for an all-day cable car pass, even that seemed intimidating.
- Crossing the Bridge
This place also has a famous internet bridge—a peculiar pedestrian bridge (it technically shouldn’t have buildings on it due to safety standards). Under a statue of Jesus is the inscription: “God loves all people.” Perhaps because it’s the off-season, many shops were closed. Only a few elderly strolled about, and the bridge’s winds made everything feel desolate.
- The Dining Company
It was time to eat. There’s a dining company here offering meals at 10 yuan per person and 1-yuan side dishes. They also have three signature products: 1-yuan bread, 2-yuan dried tofu, and 1.3-yuan noodles. For 28 yuan, you can enjoy a steak set meal with egg-fried rice and a cola in a luxurious setting.
- Integrity Transactions
This fairy-tale world is full of unmanned trading setups: 1-yuan bottled water, 1-yuan for two packs of tissue, and no special surveillance—just trust in honesty. There are self-service book stands and centers for hanging and donating old clothes.
0x2 The History of Alice’s Wonderland
Foreigners’ Street
Once a landmark in the city center, this iconic area relocated after a special period. The 1-yuan steamed buns of the original Foreigners’ Street have become urban legends. The booming real estate industry makes it nearly impossible to create startup hubs in prime city locations.Leasing Advertisements
Leasing ads are everywhere here—for small shops, seafood markets, even SPA services. Offers include five years rent-free, three years free utilities, and halved water and electricity fees.The Real Spirited Away
At night, standing on the bridge overlooking the lights, this place is even more reminiscent of Spirited Away than Hongyadong (both visually and narratively). On this deserted bridge at night, you might even encounter monsters.
0x3 Meixin Elderly Care
Elderly Street
Downhill lies “Elderly Street.” Initially, I didn’t notice the huge signage. But at lunch, I realized this street was dominated by elders—eating at the dining company, enjoying side dishes, and frequenting various restaurants. The street was filled with slow, shuffling figures. There were also elderly vendors selling vegetables on the roadside. Revisiting the sign, it indeed was Elderly Street, with detailed rental and care service prices—practical and affordable.Elderly Care Projects
Reflecting on my experience with elderly care projects, I’ve rarely seen one of this scale. Most confine seniors to compounds without external activities (mainly because such projects are usually located in remote areas). Some projects even pre-build houses and beds but fail to attract people. Ironically, I once saw a young couple renting a room in an elderly care center for their own use.Rural Revitalization Workshops
These local workshops integrate food production, sales, and tourism. With the call for rural revitalization gaining momentum, places like Chengdu’s Mingyue Village and Shaanxi’s Yuanjia Village serve as exemplary rural developments. Though many claim these models are replicable, even neighboring villages know they aren’t. Each location has unique resources and challenges. Rural entrepreneurship requires adapting to local conditions and forging new paths through uncharted territory.
0x4 END
- All Possible Worlds
Winters in the fairy-tale world are always cold, but this is one possible world. Perhaps one day, with integration, it could become the starting point for a new, thorny path.