Cultural tourism is the most influential happiness industry in the new era and a vital engine driving urban economic development.
Lush mountains and clear waters are invaluable assets. Guided by the philosophy that “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets,” the urban district has leveraged its rich historical and cultural resources, abundant natural endowments, and increasingly sophisticated tourism infrastructure to lay a solid foundation for the development of cultural tourism and wellness industries.
With the east wind blowing strong, our sails are set;
Amidst surging tides, we lead the way. In recent years, the urban district has closely aligned with Jincheng City's strategic positioning as a national “model city for cultural tourism and wellness” and a “renowned cultural tourism destination.” Aiming to become the city's “hub for wellness and tourism distribution,” it has fully leveraged its core geographical advantages to radiate influence and drive development. Through exemplary leadership, comprehensive efforts, and multiple measures, the district has propelled the high-quality development of its cultural tourism and wellness industry.
Leveraging Strategic Advantages to Ignite Industry Vitality
When one industry thrives, all prosper. Driven by deep integration of culture and tourism, the district's tourism sector has experienced sustained recovery, structural transformation, and capacity expansion. Nature's bountiful gifts and the city's accumulated cultural heritage have infused new vitality into the cultural tourism industry, charting fresh development trajectories and unleashing powerful momentum.
This summer, Sitou Town became a viral sensation, drawing crowds of visitors from across the province and beyond to “check in” and celebrate. “The complimentary hot spring water was so delicious I drank three bowls in one go.” “Truly worthy of its two Guinness World Records—the iron flower display lit up the night sky.” “They even reimbursed out-of-towners for toll fees—so thoughtful!” Such heartwarming comments and praise from visitors have repeatedly propelled Situ Town onto trending lists. Statistics show that from January to July this year, the scenic area welcomed 793,300 visitors—a 72.49% year-on-year increase—with ticket revenue reaching 88.1335 million yuan (up 214.04%) and total operational income hitting 108.7344 million yuan (up 89.47%).
The popularity of Sitou Town is just one example of the city's “Three Major Agglomeration Zones” strategy. These “Three Major Agglomeration Zones”—the Fengcheng Wellness Cluster, Cheng Hao Cultural Cluster, and Situ Tourism Cluster—serve as key drivers for the city's cultural and tourism industry development. Among them, the Fengcheng Wellness Cluster, with an investment of approximately 5 billion yuan, has completed eight projects including Longma Lake, Fengcheng International Hotel, and Fengcheng Wellness Center, while simultaneously developing wellness communities like Yuyuan and Yuyuan in the surrounding areas. Along the tree-lined shores of Longma Lake, visitors can jog at dawn in the fully equipped wellness center, savoring the natural tranquility of breezes and birdsong. Alternatively, they can unwind with soothing massages in professional therapy rooms, letting skilled techniques melt away physical and mental fatigue. This year, the Fengyang Hot Spring Resort Complex officially opened to the public. Among the surrounding wellness community clusters, the Yuyuan Community is scheduled for delivery by year-end, poised to become a model retirement community for the city. The 42nd Street Arts District in Xiaozhang Village has cultivated a vibrant cultural tourism ecosystem featuring homestay experiences, cultural events, music creation and performances, as well as artistic creation and exchange, making it an ideal destination for immersing in artistic ambiance and cultural creativity. Since its establishment, the resort has welcomed over 3 million visitors, generating 1.69 billion yuan in revenue. It has been designated a Provincial Tourism Resort and Provincial Cultural Tourism Wellness Demonstration Zone, establishing itself as a nationally influential benchmark for wellness industry development.
The Cheng Hao Cultural Cluster adheres to a comprehensive scenic area development philosophy. With a 1.2 billion yuan investment, it has completed cultural tourism projects including the Huayi Brothers Star Theater, Hilton Garden Inn, Starlight Plaza Commercial Center, and Reunion Street. This year, it will invest 250 million yuan to launch the Cheng Hao Academy Enhancement Project and advance the Cheng Hao Cultural Industrial Park initiative. This includes planning functional zones for academic forums, cultural exhibitions, and leisure entertainment, while revitalizing the academy landscape along both riverbanks. The project will also diversify the performance offerings at the Huayi Brothers Star Theater, creating a new cultural landmark blending tranquility and dynamism. Since operations began, it has welcomed over 3.1 million visitors and generated 150 million yuan in revenue. Continuously advancing the evolution and innovation of the cultural tourism landscape, we are fully committed to building Jincheng into an immersive historical and cultural destination.
The Sitou Tourism Cluster has invested nearly 1 billion yuan to establish Sitou Town, forming an integrated industrial chain encompassing “performances, dining, recreation, and homestays.” The production “Millennium Iron Soul” successfully challenged the Guinness World Record for the largest iron flower display. We continuously strengthen the branding of three major performances—“Millennium Iron Spirit,” “Only This Way,” and “Old Shanxi Revisited”—linking over 200 live-action shows. The development of distinctive lakeside districts has driven clustering effects in tourism villages like Xiaozhang Village, Qian Village, and Nanshidian. In 2024, Sitou Town welcomed 1.1 million visitors and generated 133 million yuan in revenue, ranking first among the city's 52 A-rated scenic areas. Leveraging technology to enhance experiences, creative design to empower products, and industrial thinking to expand business formats, the town continuously deepens the integration of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) with modern technology, establishing itself as a nationally renowned demonstration zone for ICH-cultural tourism integration.
Driven by the “Three Major Agglomeration Zones,” the urban district meticulously designs and launches cultural tourism products and itineraries, further enriching new outdoor tourism formats and stimulating tourism consumption. The cultural tourism product matrix continues to expand, its content deepen, and its experiences upgrade.
Pooling Synergies to Deepen Service Systems
The sea gathers its currents; the mountain accumulates its soil. The surface reflects grandeur, while the source nourishes vastness.
To refine, strengthen, and elevate the cultural tourism brand, the district has improved institutional mechanisms to solidify the foundation of its cultural tourism and wellness industry. It has enhanced infrastructure to elevate service quality in cultural tourism and wellness. By thoughtfully charting direction, passionately telling stories, and earnestly connecting with hearts, the district relentlessly drives high-quality development in the cultural tourism sector.
In strengthening institutional frameworks and solidifying the foundation of the cultural tourism and wellness industry, the district's Party committee and government leadership maintain regular oversight of tourism initiatives, with designated officials addressing practical challenges in key tourism projects. By coordinating 25 relevant departments—including finance, development and reform, natural resources, housing and urban-rural development, and water conservancy—the district has established a joint conference system for tourism affairs. This mechanism ensures seamless top-down coordination and efficient operations, driving comprehensive and multi-faceted development of district-wide tourism. Concurrently, the district prioritizes planning-led development. The Implementation Plan for Creating a National All-for-One Tourism Demonstration Zone in Jincheng District was issued, and the Master Plan for All-for-One Tourism Development in Jincheng District was formulated to guide the district's tourism growth. Policy coordination was optimized by enhancing integration with the cultural and tourism industry in relevant district-level sectoral plans. Three specialized “tourism-plus” plans covering public services, product development, and marketing were formulated, along with four regional plans for A-rated scenic areas and resorts, establishing a development framework focused on holistic landscape creation and comprehensive industry cultivation. Furthermore, policy support has been strengthened. We have conscientiously implemented the “Implementation Rules for the Travel Agency Incentive Program to Attract Visitors to Shanxi” and the “Measures to Double Cultural Tourism and Wellness Market Entities.” We have researched and introduced the “Sixteen Incentive Measures to Promote a Strong Start to the Economy in Jincheng City Urban District,” the “Measures to Enhance the Quality of the Accommodation Industry,” and the “Policies to Accelerate the Development of Characteristic Dining (Districts).” Over three years, cumulative incentive funds exceeding 30 million yuan have been disbursed. Effectively utilizing credit guarantees and emergency liquidity funds, approximately 7.5 billion yuan in financial support was provided to enterprises, incentivizing private capital participation in cultural tourism and wellness projects. Expanded consumption policies continued, with 216 million yuan in consumption vouchers distributed, driving 4.96 billion yuan in sales and revitalizing cultural tourism spending.
To enhance infrastructure and elevate cultural tourism and wellness service quality, the urban area strengthened its transportation network. With an investment of 560 million yuan, it completed the “1+4” road network (including the westward extension of Jinjiang Street and Jinzhang Street) and 85 back alleys, delivered 50 kilometers of tourist roads on schedule, and launched five sightseeing routes to attractions such as the Ancient Academy, Sitou Town, Dongtou, Shanxidi, and White Horse Temple. The district implemented a “Standard Upgrade” project for scenic areas. With an investment of 235 million yuan, it upgraded public facilities, service management, and tourism products in scenic areas. This included promoting the construction of a new theater in Sitou Town, developing smart tourism, renovating homestays, and upgrading Wolong Mountain to a 3A-level scenic area, achieving standardized upgrades for tourist attractions. It also cultivated the well-known brand “Jincheng Flavors.” Investing 190 million yuan, the city advanced the development of seven major dining districts including Wanpin Hui, South Street, and Fengcheng Yeah Alley. It cultivated ten leading enterprises such as Fengcheng International Hotel and Xinjinhe Grand Hotel, established six specialty restaurants like “Family Harmony Flavors,” “Moonlight Kangqiao,” and “Academy Family Banquet,” and encouraged the growth of time-honored brands like “Lao Sanyang,” " Ten Small Bowls,“ and ”Dehua Xing“ to expand and strengthen their operations, driving the brand development of ”Jincheng Flavors.“ As the main urban area, the city has implemented a lodging quality enhancement project to leave a positive first impression on visitors. Strengthening policy support and resource allocation, it offers rewards and subsidies for hotel star-rating creation, upgrades, and brand introductions. Following the ”3+5+10" work plan, it has newly built three hotels—Xiyue, Kunxin Pavilion, and Kunxinge, upgraded five hotels including Guomao and Holiday Inn Express, and introduced ten branded chain hotels such as Manxin, Hilton, and Atour. This has formed a diversified accommodation system integrating star-rated hotels, business hotels, budget hotels, and tourist homestays. Additionally, the city continuously optimizes its urban environment. As the primary battleground for Jincheng City's bid to become a National Sanitary City and Civilized City, the district has achieved “three sweeps, two protections, and one wash” across 56 main and secondary roads and 965 back alleys. All 171 public restrooms operate 24/7, while 28 garbage collection stations and 21 pedestrian overpasses undergo daily cleaning. These efforts comprehensively elevate the city's appearance, providing residents and visitors with a comfortable living and travel environment. Increasing numbers of out-of-town tourists are warmed by this clean city.
Through deepening mechanism coordination and systematic service capabilities, the urban district has gradually cultivated a healthy ecosystem for cultural tourism and wellness industries. Moving forward, it will continue to harness systemic thinking to consolidate strengths and build foundations through meticulous services, propelling cultural-tourism integration toward greater depth and breadth.
Integrating Cultural Tourism Resources to Empower New Chapters of Development
The “boom” in tourism hinges on the “vitality” of culture.
Jincheng's urban district boasts profound cultural heritage and a long history. The resonant sounds of study echo through Chenghao Academy, unbroken for millennia; the harmonious blend of soft and powerful tones in Shangdang Erhuang opera has been passed down through generations; the ancient charm of Old City South Street retains its bustling vitality... Here, 1,400 years of history and elegance thrive endlessly, a cultural lineage spanning millennia continues uninterrupted, and a beautiful tableau of history and modernity unfolds gradually.
Through the rugged passage of time, the mountains and rivers bear witness; the enduring cultural lineage renews itself with the ancient. In recent years, the urban district has continuously optimized its offerings, cultivating emerging industries in cultural tourism and wellness. Integrating elements like cultural relic preservation and red tourism into the tourism sector, it has advanced the development and utilization of cultural sites such as Cheng Hao Academy and the Huai-Qin Guild Hall, alongside the construction of cultural tourism projects in the historic South Street district. Leveraging Dongtou's “Three Museums, Two Centers, and One Base” along with the Yangtze River Detachment Memorial Forest, it hosts distinctive activities like integrity education and revolutionary study tours. Building on rural tourism complexes such as Hongtuling Picking Garden, Muzhixin Agro-Pastoral Cooperative, Julongshan Agro-Forestry-Pastoral Cooperative, and Jinshouheshan Agricultural Service Center, it develops new models like rural tourism, agricultural sightseeing, folk customs experiences, and homestay wellness. Leveraging the development of “Forest Homestays” and “Forest Towns” in Wuwang Mountain, Wolong Mountain, and Fenghuangling, cultivate new forest tourism formats; Utilize water conservancy projects like the Two Rivers Management and Baishui River Management to develop water conservancy tourism; Develop distinctive intangible cultural heritage industries by leveraging the development of Lanhuacui Vinegar Industry, Jinyuntang, and Jinyifang.
Simultaneously, nighttime consumption scenarios have been enriched through multiple approaches. Continuously enriching the content and scenes of the “5+200” live-action performances like “Millennium Iron Spirit” and “Seeking Phoenix in Jincheng,” accelerating the upgrade of 16 nighttime economy zones including Lanhua City, Wanda Plaza, and Shiguangli. Over 90 nighttime venues such as bars, KTVs, and small theaters host activities like small concerts, stand-up comedy shows, and electronic music festivals to create vibrant urban nightlife.
Additionally, a diversified commercial space system has been established. Guided by the “5+3+N” framework, development focuses on five major commercial districts and three specialty pedestrian streets. Cultural-tourism-commerce complexes like Orchid City, New Phoenix Exhibition, Wanda Plaza, Dongtan Convention Center, and Star Joy City have been created. Construction of new urban landmarks—Phoenix Harbor, Galaxy Business Center, Xitan Convention Center, and Shengjin Tiandi—will commence in 2025 to meet consumers' multi-tiered demands. In 2024, the district's total retail sales of consumer goods reached 37.02 billion yuan, marking a 4.3% increase. Both the total volume and growth rate ranked first in the city for two consecutive years, accounting for 55.7% of the city's total.
With smooth sailing ahead, the district is riding the wind. From the viral success of the 2024 High-Speed Rail Welcome Cultural Performances to the dazzling splendor of the South Street Blessing Lantern Festival, from the bustling crowds at the “Old Town Night Tour: Tracing Jincheng's History” events to the in-depth promotions by million-follower travel influencers, the urban district is building a multi-dimensional promotional system through diverse scenarios. By activating cultural tourism appeal with distinctive events, it channels the district's vibrant energy and cultural charm to the public through various channels. This approach strengthens the brand essence of “Healthy Living, Livable City, Charming District,” making it more robust, brighter, and more dynamic.
Currently, the urban district has preliminarily established an industrial system centered on cultural tourism, integrating diversified functions such as wellness, leisure, and vacation. Tourism reception capacity and service levels have significantly improved, while the influence of its cultural tourism brand continues to expand. The time is ripe and the momentum is strong for the high-quality development of the district's cultural tourism. Moving forward, we will continue to seize and leverage opportunities to transition from “traffic” to “retention,” and from “viral hits” to “sustained appeal.” We will continuously elevate our distinctive cultural tourism brand, meticulously build a model practice ground for the “Two Mountains” philosophy, and deliver a high-quality answer to the district's cultural tourism integration development. (Reporter Zhao Mingde)