Yichang, a pleasant and prosperous city, is the throat of Sichuan and Hubei linking the west and the east.
With the development of Yangtze River Economic Zone, Yichang, an excellent tourist city in China and the best destination for three gorges tourism, is speeding up economic ties and tourism interaction with other cities along the Yangtze River, to promote actively tourism cooperation with other cities along the three gorges.
Statistics show that in the first half of this year, Yichang received 20.8715 million tourists from home and abroad, with a tourism revenue of 15.875 billion RMB and an year-on-year growth of 27.4%, 33.8% respectively, higher than the average growth of 16.38%, 18.55% in Hubei Province. It is anticipated that in 2016, Yichang total tourism revenue will exceed 60 billion RMB, accounting for more than 10% of Yichang GDP. Yichang cultural tourism industry is striding forward towards the goal of billions.
The construction of cultural tourism industry with billions output value is growing vigorously in the beautiful Yichang.
Upgrade to Attract Visitors
"It is romantic to see the beautiful scenery on the passenger boat and ramble among the colorful cloud." A lot of tourists experience the fun of travelling in a pictorial world after the transforming of Qingjiang Gallery. After the transforming, Qingjiang Gallery received 3000 person-times one day and 565,900 person-times in the first half of this year, with a year-on-year growth of 20.02%. The scenic roads for Jiuwanxi and Chaotianhou Rafting and Visitor Center have been updated and transformed. The transforming of Xiling Gorge started and the comprehensive improvement of scenic roads and the three gorges cruise project is in the process gradually.
The catering industry upgrades: Yuan’an International Hotel to create a four-star hotel passed the preliminary assessment by Hubei Tourism Administration; eight restaurants including Mingfeng hotel are awarded the silver-leaf (the second level) green hotel. Furthermore, the Three Gorges Waterfall, Tianmen Gorge and Tianlong Bay respectively applied for 5A, 4A, 3A level scenic spot; Chaibuxi, Mingfeng Mount applied for demonstration area of eco-tourism; Wanda Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts and Taohualing Hotel applied for the gold-leaf (the first level) green hotel... To lift quality, and focus on the brand have become the consensus of tourism industry.
Integration of Culture and Tourism
Entering into the scenic area, tourists are easy to find the deep integration of culture and tourism element: Gaoqiang (a kind of rhyme scheme of Chinese opera), Chuanjiang Haozi (a work song sung to synchronize movements), Southern Opera and Tujia wedding customs. Furthermore, the scenic area developed the three gorges rare stone, root-carving, paper-cuttings etc.; Dangyang developed the culture of the Duke Guan; Changyang invested heavily to create an epic musical drama “King of Ba Nation and Goddess of Salt Pond”, performing in Qingjiang City long-term; The Three Gorges International Jewelry is constructing the world\'s largest jewelry processing field, and the jewelry processing process is open to visitors... Yichang tourism is rich with intangible culture, historical culture, literature and art and industrial tourism.
With the country festival activities in Dangyang and ZhiJiang, the rural tourism developed vigorously, especially hiking, admiring the beauty of flowers and folk culture activities.
Fostering Main Projects of Tourism Industry with Billions Output Value
The reporter learned from the interview that at present, fostering the main projects is also the powerful measures to develop tourism industry into strategic pillar industry of Yichang.
According to the statistics of Municipal Culture Bureau, Yichang has formed a modern cultural industry system of ten categories. Among them, cultural tourism, cultural entertainment, books and newspapers and cultural products manufacturing industry occupy half of the system, and cultural creative industry, advertising and exhibition industry, new entertainment industry present a huge potentiality and the momentum of development. Perth Music Group, Hubei Jinsanxia Printing co., LTD and other cultural enterprises are growing rapidly. This year, only two projects in Hubei Province are selected as 2014 key projects in distinctive culture industry by Ministry of Culture, and one is Chexi culture demonstration base, the other is Tujia folk culture park.
In addition to constructing the national tourist resort, Yichang is also building national tourism standardization demonstrative city actively. At present, there are a total of 7206 tourism market players. In the next three years, 139 major tourism projects are under construction, with a total investment of 88.6 billion RMB. In the near future, the central district, central business district, cultural and entertainment district, characteristic catering blocks, historical and cultural blocks supported by Yichang Tourism Administration will be built for tourists. (Reporter: Chen Lu)