A Colorful Autumn Journey in Jinan

Recently, the first Cultural and Tourism Mountain Climbing Festival in Pingyin County, Jinan, kicked off, coinciding with the opening of the newly created Cuiping Mountain Tourist Area, one of Pingyin's landmark attractions, which now showcases a fresh look to visitors.

Cuiping Mountain Tourist Area [Photo via Jinan International Communication Center]

At the opening ceremony of the mountain climbing festival, the ancient bell on Cuiping Mountain rang with a resounding and solemn tone, echoing through the mountains. Over 200 hiking enthusiasts set off from the park's entrance to start their ascent. Cheers and shouts filled the air as participants raced up the mountain. Onlookers at the foot of the mountain also joined the climbing queues, eager to experience the joy of mountain hiking. Along the way, hikers admired the scenic views and breathed in the fresh air, sharing laughter, encouragement, and the pure pleasure of the activity. From a distance, the line of climbers on the mountain path resembled a long dragon racing towards the peak of Cuiping Mountain. After reaching the summit, they eagerly used their smartphones to capture the joy of their success and the beauty of the mountaintop.

Cuiping Mountain boasts picturesque natural landscapes and a rich cultural heritage. The Cuiping Mountain Tourist Area follows the philosophy of "light investment, smart operation, minor renovation, and significant improvement." It adheres to national 3A and 4A scenic area evaluation standards and utilizes a "market-oriented cooperation and shared operation" model. This approach, in conjunction with an understanding of tourism development trends and visitor market demands, has led to the functional transformation and landscape enhancement of the area. New tourist facilities like restrooms, visitor reception centers, and parking lots have been constructed, while signage and road improvements have been made to provide visitors with a fresh mountain climbing experience at Cuiping Mountain.

The inaugural Pingyin County Cultural and Tourism Mountain Climbing Festival incorporates various elements, including helping local farmers sell their products, showcasing handmade intangible cultural heritage, cultural exchanges, sports empowerment, and promoting consumer benefits. This multidimensional approach combines "culture and tourism plus various elements," offering citizens and tourists a unique cultural and sports extravaganza. It also injects vitality and vigor into the high-quality development of the cultural and tourism industries in Pingyin County.

(Source: Jinan International Communication Center)