The 3rd Shaoyang Tourism Development Conference Kicks Off in Chengbu, Shaoyang

The opening ceremony of the 3rd Shaoyang Tourism Development Conference, photo by He Jiefeng

The opening ceremony and artistic performance of the 3rd Shaoyang Tourism Development Conference took place in Chengbu Miao Autonomous County, Shaoyang of Hunan Province on the evening of September 10. The event, under the theme of Singing Folk Songs Along the Journey up Nanshan Mountain, featured a range of main activities, including the opening ceremony and artistic performance, visits to cultural tourism projects, and promotional conferences focused on tourism industry development. Besides, earlier activities such as the 'Love Shaoyang, Promote by All' comprehensive media contest and the June 6 Folk Song Festival were held for the event.

During the opening ceremony, a representative from the Chengbu Miao Autonomous County showcased the region's cultural tourism initiatives.

Artistic performance, photo by He Jiefeng

The opening ceremony featured a large ethnic song and dance drama that traced the origin, development, improvement, inheritance, and integration of Chengbu folk songs. The performance contained various elements of Chengbu, including unique intangible cultural heritage items, historical stone carvings, revolutionary memories, and natural landscapes. It created a journey of ethnic integration spanning a thousand years, and providing the audience with a remarkable audio-visual experience.

The vibrant opening ceremony, photo by Xu Lingfeng

In recent years, Shaoyang has prioritized the development of cultural tourism as a key industry to enrich its residents and enhance the city's prosperity. It has consistently hosted municipal tourism development conferences, strengthened its tourism infrastructure, and accelerated the growth of new tourism formats and products. Through these efforts, Shaoyang is determined to establish itself as a well-known destination for mountain leisure and cultural tourism.

In the first half of 2024, Shaoyang recorded 28.71 million domestic trips, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 14.54 percent. Total tourism consumption reached CNY 29.99 billion, marking a 14.55 percent rise from the previous year. The integrated development of cultural tourism has given fresh impetus to revitalize rural areas and boost economic growth in counties.