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E-mail China.org.cn, July 10, 2024
The Beijing News:
We know that Sichuan province boasts abundant cultural and tourism resources, such as sanctuaries for adorable giant pandas, the mysterious Sanxingdui Ruins site, and the amazing Jiuzhaigou. All these places are popular tourist destinations during holidays and festivals. What have been the highlights in recent years regarding Sichuan's efforts to tap into its cultural and tourism resources and advance more high-quality cultural and tourism products? Thank you.
Huang Qiang:
Thank you. We'll invite Mr. Zuo to answer this question.
Zuo Yongxiang:
Thank you. I can see that you're very familiar with Sichuan's cultural and tourism resources. In the Southern Song dynasty, a poem stated that "the finest landscapes under heaven are in Sichuan," highlighting the province's long-standing reputation for culture and tourism since ancient times. In recent years, we have accelerated efforts to establish Sichuan as a leading province in culture and tourism. The appeal, influence and competitiveness of Sichuan's culture and tourism have continuously increased. During the past May Day holiday, Sichuan welcomed over 40 million tourist visits, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 9.5%.
First, we have fostered a harmonious interplay among the ancient Shu civilization, Three Kingdoms culture, Red Classics, and various cultural masterpieces. By organizing a series of exhibitions and performances in the Ancestral Temple of the Three Sus, a family known for producing three famous poets whose traditions have been passed down through the ages, we have brought the culture of family traditions out of history and into contemporary life. This embodies the profound familial and national sentiments of the Chinese people. The Sanxingdui site had been buried for thousands of years. When it was uncovered, the Sanxingdui site amazed the world. The new Sanxingdui Museum, completed in July last year, has tripled its previous reception capacity, yet it remains fully booked every day. Since its opening, the museum has received over 4 million visits.
On the other hand, we also cherish nature's precious natural resources and strive to build a world-class tourist destination. We have constructed roads and bridges, improved the transport system and enhanced supporting facilities for tourism, allowing tourists to spend less time traveling and more time sightseeing. Tourists can now easily reach remote scenic spots whenever they want, greatly improving their experience and convenience of travel. For example, with the opening of the Chengdu-Huangshengguan section of the Sichuan-Qinghai Railway, the travel time from Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou has been reduced from 10 hours to three hours. This makes it possible to visit Dujiangyan in the morning and Jiuzhaigou in the afternoon. We have also developed new and diversified tourism products, such as ice and snow hot springs and sun therapy. Previously, ice and snow resources in Sichuan were little known, but now people can enjoy both ice and snow activities in the mountains of Sichuan and warm sunshine in the Panzhihua-Xichang region, sparking a new tourism boom. Last winter, the number of tourists visiting Sichuan province rose 32% and tourism revenue increased 36%, which is a very strong indicator of success.
At the same time, we also highlighted Sichuan's distinctive features by selecting and promoting signature tourism counties and famous products. We created new cultural tourism experiences such as the "Night Cruises along Jinjiang River," "Greenway Cycling," and "Hiking Adventures." Nowadays, it is a vibrant and stylish travel experience for tourists to fly in or take high-speed trains to Sichuan, savoring hotpot, lodging in homestays, admiring pandas, and enjoying concerts. Going to concerts and traveling for music have become new trends in Sichuan's cultural and tourism industry. During the May Day holiday, Chengdu held the "Cactus Music Festival," attracting 60,000 attendees over three days, with more than 60% coming from outside the province.
With its unique cultural and tourism resources, Sichuan has great potential for development. Here, I welcome everyone to visit Sichuan. Our beautiful province will ensure your trip is worthwhile. Thank you.
