Podcasters explore hidden Xiapu

Finding deeper voices

Yang Guowei, creator of the travel podcast Grand Traveler: Humanistic Travel Audio Journal, has long documented destinations through history, geography and local culture.

In Xiapu, he spoke with a local seaweed farmer to better understand one of the county's pillar industries.

From the farmer, Yang learned that seaweed production runs from seedling cultivation in autumn to harvesting in spring. In the past, without machinery, workers had to rely entirely on manual labor to pull heavy seaweed from the ocean. The seaweed fields, arranged like rows of crops, required immense physical effort to harvest.

Although modern machinery has eased part of the burden, tasks such as drying the seaweed still require significant manual labor.

"After learning about the process, I realized how much effort goes into something we often take for granted," Yang said."When people travel after listening to my podcast, I hope the landscapes they see come with 'subtitles'. There are stories behind them."

If Yang found hidden labor behind Xiapu's seascapes, other podcasters found emotional ties behind its cultural traditions.

Podcast hosts Zhang Erda and Shanshan (both pseudonyms), are known for discussing the thoughts and emotions of young urbanites on their podcast Bye-Bye-Work.

During their visit to Banyueli, an ancient village of the She ethnic group in Xiapu, they began reflecting on why some people remain so deeply connected to their places of origin.

One person who left a lasting impression was Lei Qisong, a local cultural inheritor and founder of a museum dedicated to preserving She culture.

Lei has invested his own money in the museum, collecting artifacts ranging from wood carvings and traditional costumes to furniture and objects used in She wedding customs. Together with his family, he has devoted himself to preserving and passing on local culture.

"People here genuinely love where they live. They identify with their culture, appreciate it and believe it is worth sharing with others. That kind of confidence is very contagious," Zhang Erda said.

That emotional and spiritual resonance is something Zhang Erda and Shanshan hope to convey to their listeners.

To them, the spirit of a place can be infectious, and it is this intangible quality that they want to capture through their podcast.

"They remind us of who we truly are," Zhang Erda said. "In cities, we often maintain boundaries and keep our distance, but in places like this, people are more open and eager to share their passions. This openness fosters genuine connections."