Why does Tesla favor Quanzhou and Wulin traditional village? Recently, Zhou Zhiyang, the head of Tesla's Quanzhou business, accepted our exclusive interview.
"As the economic powerhouse of Fujian province, Quanzhou is one of the key cities in Tesla's Fujian strategy," said Zhou Zhiyang. Quanzhou, the starting point of the ancient Maritime Silk Road, enjoys the reputation of the Culture City of East Asia and is home to many key cultural relics sites. During Tesla's China tour, the Cybertruck, a product with pioneering innovation, technological advancement and futuristic aesthetics, was brought to Quanzhou city and Wulin village, hoping to showcase the collision and integration between modern technology and the historical culture of Minnan.
On February 28, the Cybertruck was photographed in Wulin, Jinjiang. On March 1, Tesla Asia tweeted about the Cybertruck's tour in Quanzhou, posting four photos, one taken in Licheng district and the other three all shot in Wulin.
"The red-brick architecture has been included in the tentative list for UNESCO World Cultural Heritage. Wulin village in Jinjiang, as a typical and well-established Minnan traditional village, features a well-preserved ancient architectural complex, making it the most vivid representative of Minnan's traditional culture," Zhou Zhiyang added, "The Cybertruck pictured alongside Wulin traditional architecture seems like 'a dialogue that transcends time and space'."
During the recent Spring Festival celebrations of the Year of the Dragon, Wulin successfully organized the fourth annual series of its Minnan cultural and tourism activities, which attracted more than 420,000 people and recorded over 40 million media impressions. On Douyin (aka TikTok overseas), Wulin ranked first on the list of ancient towns in Quanzhou, second on the list of tourist attractions, and third on the list of must-see scenic spots.
Initially, to boost tourism in Wulin, the Cybertruck was to have shown up during the Spring Festival and provided tourists with an up-close experience. However, due to heavy passenger traffic and safety concerns, the Cybertruck had to delay its arrival in Wulin.
As expected, the contrast between the innovative, pioneering Cybertruck and traditional Chinese elements such as brick-and-stone architecture, swallow tail ridges, and Minnan-style red buildings, created a striking visual impact, exuding a unique sense of technology and fantasy.
Zhou Zhiyang, the organizer of the event, was even more surprised by the photos of the Cybertruck with Wulin traditional village, which not only received praise from Musk but also sparked heated discussions among car fans and netizens worldwide.