From every corner of Hunan we gather at the blessed land of Huaihua.
From September 16 to 18, Huaihua served as the revue for the commencement of the 5th Hunan Tourism Development Conference. With the theme of "Shared Beauty, Cooperative Development: Translating Huaihua into a New Highland for Integrated Cultural and Tourism Development," this grand occasion enhanced the city’s image as "Huaihua, A Blessed Land Making You Feel at Home. It also presented itself as a prime example of fostering a strong sense of the Chinese national community and promoting interactions, exchanges, and integration among all ethnic groups. This great even has definitely contributed a new splendid chapter to the cause of ethnic unity and progress across the city.
A Marriage of Culture and Tourism Leading to the Building-up of A Home with Shared Spirit
Travel is less about viewing landscapes and more about savoring culture and forging bonds of unity.
Capitalizing on this unique opportunity, the city has diligently implemented cultural programs, comprehensively integrated cultural and tourism resources, and innovatively established a new framework in this sector. These endeavors and measures have unveiled before residents and tourists alike a dynamic scroll of "culture + tourism + ethnic integration" and thus forged a brand-new platform for interactions, exchanges, and integration among all ethnic groups.
On September 12, the self-driving tour program "Journey on the Ancient Beijing-Kunming Post Road: A Smart Drive on Xuefeng Mountain," was launched. At the square in front of the Yuanling County Museum, convoys of vehicles from Chongqing, Guangxi, Jiangsu, Hunan, Hubei, and other provinces started to embark on their journey along the millennia-old Ancient Beijing-Kunming Post Road as the sound of a starting horn pierced through the sky.
Today, travelers driving along road are given a great number of choices and thus can expose themselves to different facets of history and culture. They may explore eight major cultural landmarks and diverse tourism IPs, namely the Longxing Lecture Hall, the Chuanyi Relay Station, Tang Dynasty relics, intangible cultural heritage technologies, and the "Footprints of Yuan Longping," in search of a "history they can feel in person." Alternatively, they may retrace the "Spot of the Long Match Route" or the "Folk Custom Route," plunging themselves into a specially mixed cock-tail of covering wartime history, Dong ethnic village culture, and ancient village night tours. In one way or other, travelers are likely to acquire a sense of deep interactions and integration.
It transpired that float parades, Muay Thai performances, and a beer and music festival, and other evening activities were performed at the ASEAN Collection · Southeast Asia Cultural Park. These features have drawn residents and tourists alike with their unique and charming ethnic ambiance, presenting the hustle and bustle of the city.
Cultural identity, being the most profound form of identity, constitutes the heart and soul of the ethnic unity and harmony. This notion is successfully brought into life by the debut of the original ecological field-life drama "Holding You in My Arms" at the Huaihua Grand Theatre. The drama relates the romance between Huaisheng, a Dong ethnic boy, and Ahe, a Yao ethnic girl. It has thereby received a standing ovation, chanting the melody of ethnic unity as one large family.
Silhouetted against the backdrop of water, light and cultures, the boating program "Ode to the Blessed Land" is one of the first massive performances themed with 'Fu' (blessings) culture on a national scale. It unfolds the millennium-old stories of 'Blessed Huaihua' through onboard multimedia technology and large-scale immersive projections on both riverbanks, captivating audiences and receiving widespread acclaims. Today, the Wushui River Corridor, like a shimmering ribbon, has become a new cultural landmark embodying a living history of Huaihua and a vital window into interactive experiences as well. It effectively shed insights into the local culture, thus reinforcing an increased sense of community among all ethnic groups.
Located in Hecheng District, The Wuxi Intangible Cultural Heritage Park was open to the public in May 2025. The park comprises three main sections: the Intangible Square, the Digital Experience Center, and the Hands-on Experience Workshop. It utilizes technologies including VR, AR, and holographic projection to create 42 programs marked with immersive intangible cultural heritage experiences.
Leaning on the Wuxi Intangible Cultural Heritage Park as a key platform, the city has launched thematic study-tour programs and developed in-depth interactive projects. This project aims to attract more people who will understand and thus learn more about ICH by setting up a distinctive cultural industry system. In so doing people will come to realize and appreciate the values of ICH, therefore bonding with one another with a greater sense of national identify.
On the evening of September 17, the village song concert "Music Across Wuxi, Songs Through Millennia"commenced on Heming Islet. The interwoven landscapes of mountains and waters and local dialects ran through this special program which supported and buttressed the 5th Hunan Tourism Development Conference, eulogizing the spirit of the new era on behalf of all ethnic groups and presenting a beautiful picture of their interactions, exchanges, and integration.
At 7:30 PM on September 20, the "Hibiscus in Bloom · Blessed Huaihua" concert was hosted in the Huaihua Sports Center. This visual feast was highly marketed and featured multiple renowned artists. It has made Omni-channel Traffic Acquisition quite accessible and available in a comprehensive manner through high quality services and cultural tourism experiences, creating mutual interactions between the host city and the spectators, and allowing people from all ethnic groups to feel the warmth of “ Huaihua, A Blessed Land Making You Feel at Home”.
Enhancing Business Formats and Service Quality
Over the years, the continuous interactions, exchanges, and integration among Huaihua's local ethnic groups have spawned a vibrant spectrum of cultural forms, including its distinctive patriotic culture, farming culture, ancient trade route culture, and culture of peace.
Seizing the opportunity presented by the conference, Huaihua has delved into its cultural heritage and facilitated the smooth development of key tourism projects, vigorously boosting new models such as "culture & tourism + performing arts," "culture & tourism + cuisine," and "culture & tourism + sports." These efforts have thus enabled visitors from all ethnic groups to feel the emotional bonds of Chinese cultural identity through immersive experiences, collectively weaving the narrative of the Chinese national community with the "shared beauty."
Spanning the entire 200-kilometer reach of the Yuanshui River and encompassing four key hubs—Anjiang County, Hongjiang County, Zhijiang Dong Autonomous County, and Yushuwan(Hecheng District)—this conference is likely to drive coordinated development across five counties/districts, covering 6,400 square kilometers. Using the Yuanshui River as its connecting point, the city has bond together the "Three Rivers and One Bay", collectively creating a comprehensive tourism framework. This is to substantially incentivize the cultural and tourism development locally.
The dilapidated old Xiangwei factory buildings have been converted into the Tianwen Island, and the abandoned glass plant has been supplanted by the Yushuwan Cultural-Tourism-Commercial Complex... During the conference, the urban area has taken on stunning looks and unveiled its new cultural landmarks under the "One Axis, Four Points" plan. This plan uses the Wushui River Corridor as an ecological and cultural axis, linking four major projects—the Tianwen Island, the Yushuwan Complex, the ASEAN Collection, and the Jingping Ancient Village— forming a new tourism pattern.
An exploration into the Yushuwan block on foot might as well bring any individual to cultures of the Dong, Miao, Yao, and Tujia ethnic groups at close quarters. Covering 168 mu with a construction area of 36,500 square meters, the block has integrated ethnic culture exhibitions, catering, creative retail, and immersive performances, amply showcasing Huaihua's profound history and its hustling residential life.
"We are not just constructing a new commercial complex; we are rebuilding the city's spiritual home," the project leader explained. "Every upturned eave and every carved window incorporates the architectural techniques of Dong drum towers and Miao stilted houses."
Huaihua takes you back to the nostalgic memories with its mountains and waters. The city boasts 187 villages listed as Chinese Traditional Villages, ranking atop in Hunan and fourth nationally. With the advert of the successful conference, revitalization of ancient villages and historic sites in growing numbers can be made quite possible.
As a key demonstration site of the conference, Jingping Ancient Village, Zhongfang County has established itself as an eminent tourist destination. It consist of various attractions including the Chinese Classical Music Experience Hall, the Ancient Post Road Culture Hall, and the Jingping Historical Trail. Using digital technology, it vividly recreates historical scenes like ancient court music and the Beijing-Kunming Ancient Post Road. The village has also developed immersive experiences including "Echoes of Jingping: The Pan Shiquan Story" and the "Five Senses Meditation Space," fully representing the unique charm of "Chinese Classical Music Culture" and "Post Road Culture".
In Gaoyi Ancient Village, Huitong County, Nuo opera performers wearing vibrantly painted wooden masks leap and dance to the rhythm of drums, with their exaggerated features appearing even more mysterious under the sunlight. While satisfying the cultural needs of all ethnic groups, these performances have consolidated people's sense of identity with their ethnic culture on a constant basis.
At Yutou Ancient Dong Village, Tongdao Dong Autonomous County, visitors are greeted with a great number of customs—"Gate-Blocking Wine," "Long Table Banquets," and "Oil Tea" ceremonies, to name a few. A variety of "Dong-flavored" courses have been served to delight the visitors who would willingly immerse themselves into a grand feast of ethnic culture.
On September 12, the Huaihua Museum (New Hall) was open to the public, adding a new landmark to the city's cultural and tourism landscape. With an area of approximately 14,000 square meters, the museum has housed over 16,000 cultural relics (sets), laying out areas designated for the "Huaihua Historical and Cultural Exhibition," "Wuxi Wood Carving Culture Exhibition," "Huaihua Humanities Digital Exhibition," and the "Huaihua Railway Culture Theme Exhibition." Through diverse modern techniques including physical displays, scene reconstructions, and multimedia interactions, it comprehensively presents Huaihua's developmental trajectory from ancient times to the present, its profound historical context, and its unique folk customs.
On September 12, the Xuefeng Mountain High-Speed Cable Car, a new engine for cross-regional cultural and tourism collaboration between Huaihua and Shaoyang, made its official debut. Covering an area of approximately 7,600 meters, it started from the South Xupu Station of the Shanghai-Kunming High-Speed Railway and extended directly to the Shanbei Terraced Fields and the Huxingshan Dahua Yao Scenic Area. It has set records as the "world's longest high-mountain cable car" and "China's longest cable car," serving as a "golden link" connecting ethnic regions and as well as a "road of unity" promoting ethnic solidarity.
Cultural-tourism development through basketball games. From the evening of August 20 to 27, the southern division of the "Land Ablaze with Color · 2025 National Harmonious Village Basketball Tournament (Village BA)" was put on stage in Aiguo Village, Xiaoping Town. This event served as a prelude basketball feast for the conference. Apart from the exciting basketball games, the tournament featured carefully arranged activities like photo exhibitions, bustling markets visits, local food samples and specialties sales, appreciating intangible cultural heritage, and collecting creative cultural products.
Based on its unique resources, the city has positioned "sports+" as a new format for integrated cultural and tourism development. A series of games-themed competitions have gone viral, sparkling a trend of "traveling with the events." Through these diverse cultural and sports activities, residents of all ethnic groups and tourists befriend each other through competitions and foster integration via tourism, further strengthening national pride and their identification with Chinese culture.
Hosting the Event for Public Benefits, Enriching Lives with Shared Joy.
The conference is held not for short-term excitement, but for the long-term well-being of the public.
During the conference preparation, the city has consistently adhered to a people-centered development philosophy, prioritizing the sense of fulfillment and happiness among all ethnic groups as the fundamental measure of success. This approach has created a triple harmony of "hosting the event to benefit the people, boost industries, and revitalize the city," ultimately building a beautiful and habitable home where all ethnic groups could coexist, integrate, and collaborate for a shared future.
A host of tangible civic projects have been promoted simultaneously—from improved urban roads to restored backstreet alleys, from enhanced ecological parks to the optimized layout of public facilities.
The city has rolled out 33 old residential community renovation projects, and 56 supporting upgraded facilities. These projects have altogether benefited 8,495 households, approximately 30,000 residents.
Eight main roads and streets were upgraded simultaneously. The more than 40-year-old railway underpass on Liyuan Road was demolished. A landscape pedestrian bridge was set up , currently connecting the Yingfeng Park and the Botanical Garden. This ongoing optimization of the urban road network has made travel more convenient and efficient.
The lives of residents have been enriched significantly by the upgraded Sports Park and Sports Center, together with the Huaihua Library and the Huaihua Museum which are newly operational.
Huaihua, a land of 267,000 square meters has been revitalized and become greener and lusher with a great variety of constructions including five pocket parks, ten small greenery spaces, and five landscape features.
On the morning of August 28, streamers fluttered above the Qiusuo Square on Tianwen Island along the Wushui Rive，signaling the completion of the Xianren Wind-and-Rain Bridge—a structure combining ethnic charm with modern craftsmanship. Spanning 102 meters in length and 25 meters in width, it functions as a critical link linking key tourism development projects including the Tianwen Island, the Huaihua Grand Theatre, and the Yushuwan Cultural-Tourism-Commercial Complex. It also functions as a venue for ethnic cultural performances and first-hand intangible cultural heritage experiences, representing as a "living arena" displaying Huaihua's multi-ethnic cultures.
Though separated by mountains, we share the same clouds and rain; the moonlit scene belongs not to two lands, but one domain. On the Autumnal Equinox, the landscape of the Wuxi region is a perfect portrayal of "myriad mountains in a riot of reds, with every forest coated in delicate green shades." Here, the pursuit of "Cultural Tourism Integration for Shared Beauty" is still on the move.
Looking forward, the city will adhere to the central task of fostering a strong sense of the Chinese national community in an unwavering fashion. It will continue to actively explore new approaches to "integrating cultural and tourism development with ethnic unity," so as to promote extensive interactions, comprehensive exchanges, and deep integration among all ethnic groups, and unrelentingly paint a new chapter of ethnic unity and progress.
（Translated by Dong Yue）