Shaoyang Scenic Area signage production is not just a street sign, it is the first business card of the scenery

Recently, I was chatting with several friends who are engaged in scenic spot planning. When it came to the project in Shaoyang, everyone mentioned the signage - this thing is too easy to be ignored, but if it is not done well, it really ruins the scenery. A friend complained that he went to a new store in Shaoyang last year. The scenery of the landscape scenic spot is really good, but the sign is full of plastic, the font is blurry, and the road it points to is quite detoured. There are many complaints from the tourists. You see, the sign is not a small thing, it is the "first impression" of the scenic spot for tourists.

Shaoyang is actually quite well-established in terms of tourism resources. The world natural heritage of Langshan, the alpine meadows of Nanshan Ranch, the nature reserves of Huangsang, and the scattered ancient towns and villages, which one does not bring its own traffic? However, in many scenic spots, especially those that are developing or need to be improved, the understanding of signage is still at the level of "it can guide the way". This is like a person wearing a haute couture suit, but wearing a crude brooch, and the overall texture suddenly falls off.

I think that scenic spot signage must first be a "tour guide", not a living one, but silent and on duty 24 hours a day. What do tourists look for first when they get off the bus? It’s just a sign. How to get to the core attractions? Which direction is the bathroom? How far is the nearest service center? This information must be clear, accurate, and clear at a glance. In the Danxia landform area with complex topography like Langshan, there are many forked roads, so the guidance system of the signs is even more critical. People cannot be confused after looking at the signs, and the experience will be too bad. I remember Once I was in an ancient town and wanted to find an old pier. The sign said "pier →". After walking for about ten minutes, I found a dead end at the end. When I came back and asked, I found out that the sign was old and the road had been changed long ago. This kind of information is lagging behind and hurts the trust of tourists the most.

But accuracy alone is not enough. In Shaoyang, signage must be a "cultural interpreter". You must be able to speak the local dialect. This "local dialect" does not refer to the dialect, but refers to the design language that must be integrated with local cultural elements. In the scenic spots in Chengbu Miao Autonomous County, can the signage design extract some patterns from Miao embroidery? Or use some rustic wood or bamboo materials, paired with symbols with ethnic characteristics? In the ancient villages of Suining, can the style of signage be more primitive, using images of blue bricks and tiles? Instead of using the same computer black fonts, try handwriting or the more elegant Song font? In terms of materials, don’t just use stainless steel and acrylic. Wouldn’t it be more harmonious to use some anti-corrosion treated local wood in an open area like Nanshan Ranch? In Langshan, materials that echo the color and texture of the Danxia rocks are used to make the sign appear to be growing out of the ground rather than being forced in. In this way, the sign itself becomes a small attraction, and tourists are willing to stop and take photos of it.

When it comes to production, there are many ways to do it. It is not as simple as finding an advertising shop to spray paint. In Shaoyang, you have to consider the climate here. There is rain, fog, and humidity in the mountainous areas. How strong is the corrosion resistance and UV resistance of the sign? In places like Langshan and Huangsang, there may also be low temperatures in winter. The materials must be frost-resistant and the surface treatment technology must be very solid. Otherwise, they will fade and peel over the year, making them unsightly and expensive. The installation is even more technical and must be firm and there must be no safety hazards. Especially along steep tourist trails, the installation method must also be particular to minimize damage to the original landscape and vegetation. It is best to achieve "invisible installation" or combine the design with functional facilities such as guardrails and resting platforms.

Nowadays, we are talking about smart tourism, and many scenic spots in Shaoyang are also promoting it. Can the signage be more "smart"? This does not mean that you have to build a large electronic screen and print a small QR code on key navigation signs. Visitors can scan it and see detailed graphic introductions, historical stories, and even a short video of the attraction. Or, set up simple smart signage at major intersections, and use the back-end system to Based on the flow of people in the scenic area, it can dynamically prompt "the attraction ahead is crowded, it is recommended to turn right to go to XX attraction". This kind of interactivity and intelligence can greatly improve the favorability of young tourists. It should be noted that the intelligent element is the icing on the cake and cannot be put before the horse, destroying the overall beauty and clarity of the sign.

To be honest, to make Shaoyang’s scenic signage well, planners, designers, producers and scenic area managers need to work together as one. In-depth research is required in the early stage to understand the unique personality of each scenic area. ； The design needs to be carefully considered to find the best balance between beauty, practicality and cultural expression. ； Production and installation must strive for excellence and withstand the test of time and wind and rain. ； There must be a maintenance and update mechanism in the future. If the information changes or the brand becomes old, someone must take care of it.

After all, scenic spot signage is part of the scenery, a silent guardian, and a communicator of culture. It stands silently at intersections and roadsides, telling visitors the story of this landscape in the most intuitive way, and guiding them to discover and experience beauty. Next time you go to a scenic spot in Shaoyang, you might as well pay more attention to the signs around you and feel whether it makes you more integrated into the scenery or looks out of place. A good "business card" can speak for itself.