CNR:

Shaanxi boasts rich cultural tourism resources, including the Great Wild Goose Pagoda, Terracotta Warriors, and ruins of Qin dynasty palaces and Han dynasty mausoleums, attracting constant visitors. So, how are you improving visitors' experiences and promoting high-quality cultural tourism industry development? Thanks. 

Zhao Gang:

Thanks for your interest in our cultural tourism sector. Please give the floor to Mr. Wang Xiao.

Wang Xiao:

Thank you for your keen attention to Shaanxi's cultural tourism. Shaanxi has a profound history and rich cultural heritage; it enjoys a reputation as a history museum by nature. From the Yellow Emperor's Mausoleum and the Terracotta Warriors to the Lingshan Temple Pagoda, the Qinling Mountains, and the Huashan Mountain, the province boasts landmarks of Chinese civilization, revolutionary history, and important geological marvels. In recent years, we have integrated the cultural and tourism industries to reinforce each other, exploring and showcasing the unique charm of Shaanxi, improving the tourist experience, and boosting the high-quality development of the cultural tourism sector. We have mainly focused our efforts on three aspects:

First, we strive to make the authentic charm of Shaanxi reverberate across time and space. We have coordinated efforts in cultural relic protection, civilization inheritance, and cultural development, bridging history and modernity. Tourists can experience the profound history, magnificent landscapes, and cultural achievements of Shaanxi through the 6,000-year-old Banpo relic site, the 4,000-year-old Shimao site, the hezun (bronze wine vessel) that is the oldest known relic with characters reading "Middle Kingdom (China)," the capital sites of 14 dynasties from Zhou, Qin, Han to Tang, the Qinling Mountains — the cradle of the Chinese civilization — and the traditional Qinqiang Opera. In Yan'an, a sacred place to remember the revolutionary history, visitors can trace the successful path of the CPC. They can also be inspired by the development achievements of the new era and remain committed to continuous efforts. In Shaanxi, you can explore valuable artifacts, reflect on the passage of time, and embrace the splendid Chinese civilization, gaining a better understanding of the zeitgeist of our time and strengthening cultural confidence.

Second, we strive to display Shaanxi's charm in different dimensions. The cultural tourism economy has become innovation-driven and entered a new stage of sustainable prosperity. We understood the patterns and characteristics of this new stage of development and mapped out eight major industrial chains, expanding and improving the integrated cultural tourism development paradigm centered on Xi'an and expanding across the province. Tourism products highlighting cultural relics, art performances, and poetry have become popular. Tourists are staying longer and spending more. For the Spring Festival Gala in the Year of the Dragon, Xi'an sub-venue provided an amazing show to present its timeless charm, incorporating a famous poem by Li Bai, "Qiang Jin Jiu (Bring in the Wine)," highlighting the romance of Shaanxi. The Datang Everbright City tourism spot and the TV series "The Longest Day in Chang'an" are popular. Revolutionary sites are crowded with visitors, and people dressed in traditional Chinese costumes stroll around the Bell and Drum Towers and under the ancient city wall. Performances, including the dance drama "The Song of Everlasting Sorrow" and the stage play "Yan'an Nursery School," have sold well, and rural destinations such as Yuanjia village and Zhujiawan village have surged in popularity. In 2023, the number of tourists and tourism revenue in the province increased by 106.5% and 150.6%, respectively.

Third, we are dedicated to showcasing Shaanxi's charm and fostering friendships. As the starting point of the ancient Silk Road, Shaanxi is diligently implementing the outcomes of the China-Central Asia Summit related to the province, and leveraging platforms such as the inaugural general assembly of the Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia, the Fourth Chinese Archaeology Congress, the Silk Road International Arts Festival and the 14th China-U.S. High-Level Dialogue on Tourism. We will develop new intellectual properties featuring the Silk Road culture and tourism, and introduce a series of inbound tourism facilitation measures amid our efforts to create a world-class tourism destination that inherits Chinese culture, and share stories about Shaanxi, the Silk Road and China. 

Next, we will persist in upholding fundamental principles, breaking new ground, enhancing quality and efficiency, and promoting integrated development. By doing so, we will contribute to the country's efforts to build up its strengths in culture and tourism industries and develop a modern Chinese civilization. We warmly invite more friends from China and abroad to visit Shaanxi and fall in love with it.

Thank you.