In an old garden apartment on Gulou Road, Kunming,

"Black Cat Director" sits amid a canvas of artworks,

with its tail gently brushing across the palette.

"It's overseeing my progress on the 'Cat's Kunming Drift Diary'."

"Post-95" youth Su Yiheng,

enrolled in Class 3 of Environmental Design

at the Design School of Yunnan Arts University (YNAU) in 2020,

put down his brush with a smile.

After graduating from YNAU

in 2024,

he established a painting studio,

accompanied by a black cat every day.

Since then,

cat-related themes often appear in his artworks.

In recent years,

it has become quite trendy to travel to Yunnan,

and some young digital nomads choose to temporarily reside in Kunming,

inspiring the evolution of

youth-oriented cultural tourism industries.

"Joining an energetic community of young individuals

has become the preference of an increasing number of young travelers,"

said Su Yiheng.

Then,

he envisioned a possibility

——to own a spacious artistic space

for showcasing diverse cat-themed paintings

and attracting friends who love cats and art.

This can combine delightful art, poetry, and aspirations with

the local culture and lifestyle of Yunnan to

explore new ways for young people to live in Yunnan.

Su Yiheng is interviewed and reported by Xinhuanet.

By chance,

Su Yiheng and several friends

leased a garden apartment on Gulou Road in Kunming and

named it the "Cat Post Office".

A black cat served as the "Cat Director".

Inside the "Cat Post Office",

a French-style fountain, brick walls adorned with creeping vines,

and the 24 rooms named after literary classics, such as One Hundred Years of Solitude

create a tranquil space amidst the urban commotion.

A coffee bakery was opened in the courtyard.

The air is imbued with the aroma of Yunnan small grain coffee.

The "Post Office Display Window" at the entrance is eye-catching.

Beneath the portrait of the "Cat Director"

placed postcards stamped with a unique postmark.

Zhang Guangrui, a programmer from Beijing,

headed straight to the "Cat Post Office" during his vacation.

He said,

"Amidst a labyrinth of codes,

it seems to see egrets skimming over the green lake.

Life appears to open up a possibility of poetic existence."

Yin Xiaoman, a 38-year-old freelance writer hailing from Hubei,

has been residing here for over a month.

"When I write articles gazing out the window at the century-old Yunnan-Vietnam Railway relics in Kunming,

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that creation and life are seamlessly interconnected,"

she said.

Currently,

weekly tea gatherings are regularly organized here.

"Cat Post Office" serves as an artistic space and a vibrant hub

for young people to live in Yunnan.

Travelers can share stories of their journeys to

exchange for customized cat-themed postcards.

Travelers staying for a month will be awarded a Drifting Certificate,

with the back featuring a hand-drawn map of Kunming by Su Yiheng.

Travel guides highlight locations such as the mushroom stall at 5:00 in the Zhuanxin Market and

the prime gull feeding spot at Haigeng Dam, which are marked on the map.

Display of Selected Works by Su Yiheng

In the future,

Su Yiheng plans to collaboratively create the "Black Cat Director" IP

with young travellers and

incorporate Yunnan's Wa Cat, an intangible cultural heritage, as an artistic element to

produce a diverse range of works.

He envisions these stamps adorning the world map,

inspiring more individuals to visit Yunnan, experience its stunning scenery, and pursue their dreams.