"Poetry of Zhenjiang: A Selection of Ancient and Modern Poems About the City"

Six Volumes of Poetry Converge in Jingkou, Millennial Literary Heritage Forges Excellence — A Multidimensional Analysis of the Successful Publication of "Jiangsu Zhenjiang Poetry"

In 2019 and 7, our flagship historical and literary work, "Jiangsu Poetry: A Selection of Poems About Zhenjiang Throughout the Ages," was officially published. This six-volume hardcover set spans over 360 thousand words. Upon release, it created a sensation in Zhenjiang's cultural circle, winning the Third Prize for Excellent Achievements in Philosophy and Social Sciences at the 16th Jiangsu Provincial Awards—the highest government honor for humanities and social sciences in the province. It also garnered high-level attention and formal recognition from key leaders of the Zhenjiang Municipal Party Committee and Government, establishing itself as the company's signature achievement in regional traditional culture publishing. The success of this monumental series, recognized by academia, government, and the market alike, stands as a milestone in Zhenjiang's cultural development. Its achievements stem from five core strengths: extensive documentation, rigorous academic research, sophisticated structure and design, urban value, and industry benchmarking.

First, it is unprecedented in scale, filling a millennium-long gap in regional poetry literature and representing the culmination of poetry from this region.

Zhenjiang has historically undergone two systematic efforts to compile local poetry and prose: the late Qing Dynasty's *Runzhou Shiji Shi Chao* included only about 1,000 pieces, while the 1980s *Jingjiang Fu* featured fewer than 2,000. Both collections were limited in scope and incomplete. In contrast, *Shici Zhenjiang* was meticulously crafted over a decade, drawing from over 10,000 ancient texts, conducting field surveys of cliff inscriptions and stone steles, and actively collecting manuscripts from the public. It features 1700 years of works by 4108 authors, totaling 20391 poems and prose pieces, covering all districts of Zhenjiang—including Dantu, Danyang, Jurong, and Yangzhong—and comprehensively preserving literary heritage associated with landmarks such as Jinshan, Jiaoshan, Beigu Mountain, and Xijin Ferry. Its breadth and total volume far surpass those of any previous Zhenjiang collection and are rare among comparable city-level historical and literary series nationwide. This project truly brings "texts hidden in dormant ancient books and earthly relics" to life, providing an essential primary source for Jiangnan urban literature.

Second, it features rigorous scholarship and a solid academic framework that transcends the limitations of ordinary reference compilations.

This series is far more than a simple collection of poems and prose; it is built on rigorous, professional academic research. The editors meticulously cross-referenced classical anthologies such as the *Siku Quanshu*, *Complete Tang Poems*, and *Complete Song Ci* with local gazetteers from various counties and cities to verify place names, titles, and biographical details. This process corrected numerous errors found in ancient texts. Biographies were written for over 4,000 poets, and extensive editorial notes were added to clarify obscure historical facts and the origins of ancient place names—for example, confirming that "Xiling" refers to Zhenjiang's Xijin Ferry. The work's historical credibility has been widely recognized by the academic community. Renowned scholars Professor Ge Xiaoyin and Professor Su Dawang from Peking University contributed forewords, while literary giants Ding Mang and Master Xinchen provided endorsements. This authoritative academic foundation was the key strength behind the series receiving a provincial government award. The Jiangsu Province Excellent Achievement Award in Philosophy and Social Sciences, organized by the provincial government and held biennially, saw hundreds of monographs compete. Winning this award fully validates the book's scholarly value and its endorsement by an authoritative provincial expert committee.

Third, the layout is ingeniously designed in a hardcover collector's edition that meets both reading and collecting needs.

Divided into six volumes by historical era, the book clearly traces a millennium of Zhenjiang's urban evolution. A dual stroke-and-pinyin index ensures easy retrieval, while poetic illustrations enrich the pages. Each volume features calligraphy by renowned figures spanning ancient and modern times, including Su Shi, Mi Fu, Mao Zedong, and Chen Yi, all presented in an elegant and dignified layout. Produced with premium hardcover craftsmanship, the paper quality and binding standards are tailored for library collections, cultural tourism agencies, and collectors of local history. Post-launch distribution will reach cultural centers, universities, and archives nationwide, ensuring strong market fit that balances practicality with collectible appeal. The entire compilation was independently executed by the author—from research and textual collation to typesetting and data entry. All 3.6 million characters were manually typed and proofread over a decade of dedicated refinement, establishing this work as a benchmark for publishing projects dedicated to local culture.

Fourth, it fulfills the mission of carrying forward urban culture, earns recognition from local leadership, and delivers outstanding social benefits.

Zhenjiang has been honored as the "City of Chinese Poetry," with poetry serving as the city's core cultural IP. The *Poetry in Zhenjiang* series systematically organizes the city's cultural heritage, comprehensively documenting its historical evolution, humanistic anecdotes, landscapes, and local customs. It provides authoritative textual support for urban tourism promotion, local cultural education, and city branding. Following its publication, key leaders of the Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government closely followed the book, highly affirming its significance in preserving the city's roots and enhancing its cultural soft power, while extending sincere gratitude to the editorial team. Moving beyond a mere literary collection, this work has become a cornerstone tool for local cultural construction, combining documentary value, tourism value, and public welfare value, delivering social benefits far surpassing those of typical historical and literary publications.

For our company, "Poetry of Zhenjiang" stands as the benchmark for regional ancient text compilation and publication. It demonstrates that deeply cultivating local cultural heritage and meticulously crafting large-scale historical-literary collections achieves both academic excellence and social impact. This work has earned provincial-level official recognition while gaining high acclaim from city authorities, successfully unifying professional publishing standards with the mission of cultural preservation. It sets a high-quality model for our local historical and literary publishing business.

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