ANALYSIS OF INNOVATIVE DESIGN PATHS FOR CULTURAL TOURISM PRODUCTS BASED ON THOUSAND-ANGLE LANTERN ELEMENTS

Abstract

Against the backdrop of cultural rejuvenation and global communication, traditional intangible cultural heritage generally faces challenges, including broken inheritance chains, insufficient youth-oriented expression, and weak digital communication capacity. As a national-level intangible cultural heritage, Dongguan Thousand-Horn Lantern embodies the value of Lingnan folk culture, clan symbolism and traditional craftsmanship. Nevertheless, its conventional presentation modes fail to meet the demands of contemporary digital cultural tourism and young people’s aesthetic preferences. Accordingly, this study takes the Thousand-Horn Lantern as the core research object and establishes a research framework of “cultural gene deconstruction—visual symbol translation—digital innovative design—communication and promotion.” Adopting multiple research methods such as literature research, field investigation, questionnaire surveys, and expert interviews, this paper systematically extracts the cultural symbols and visual artistic characteristics of the Thousand-Horn Lantern. Combined with digital art technologies including 3D modeling, VR/AR interaction, motion visual design and IP reconstruction, it realizes the modern and digital translation of traditional cultural elements. The research findings demonstrate that this innovative design model effectively improves the clarity of cultural expression of the Thousand-Horn Lantern, recognition among young consumers, and the communication influence of regional cultural brands, while strengthening the interactive experience and market transformation potential of intangible cultural heritage. This study provides theoretical support and practical references for the digital innovation of traditional folk intangible cultural heritage, the integrated development of culture and tourism, as well as international cultural communication.

Keywords: Thousand-Angle Lantern, Intangible Cultural Heritage, Cultural and Tourism Products, Innovative Design, Cultural-Tourism Integration, Living Inheritance