A number of newly built or upgraded cultural and tourism projects have also brought rapid changes to the city in the upsurge of construction. 

 

 

In Mangshan Mountain in Yizhang County, mysterious in the drizzle, groups of tourists speaking Cantonese were amazed by its beautiful scenery.

 

On the bank of Dongjiang Lake in Zixing City, the iconic building “Chenzhou Water World” inspired by the character “水” (water) caught the eyes of citizens and tourists.

 

Tourism has boosted the development of planting, homestay, and catering in Shazhou Village, Rucheng County, which helped improve the life of local villagers.

 

A group of historical and cultural blocks have also been renovated during this period,  to form a night consumption gathering area.

 

Yuhou Street, Yuhouli, Nanguanshang Historical and Cultural Block, Moxintang Historical and Cultural Block, Yashi Road, and other projects are expected to receive 5 million tourist arrivals annually, achieve a revenue of about 500 million yuan and create over 5,000 job opportunities once in operation.

 

In addition, Wayaoping Historical and Cultural Village has restored the prosperity of the thousand-year-old ferry, Beihu Sleepless Night Consumption Block has been upgraded to the provincial level, the Gaoyi Ridge Tourist Area has been upgraded to a national 4A scenic area, and the night tour of Cuijiang River is about to kick off.

 

Chenzhou has been taking action to turn natural resources into famous scenic areas, as well as historical resources into wealth, in a bid to achieve ecological value transformation and green transformation through the cultural and tourism industry.

 

 

What Chenzhou has been striving for is more than a thriving cultural and tourism industry, but the high-quality development of the entire city.

 

Gaoyi Ridge Scenic Area has been shortlisted as a national 4A scenic area. It was once a medium-sized ash dam for the disposal of power plant tailings, with flying ash and severe ecological degradation.

 

This year, Chenzhou has completed six major quality improvement projects in just 5 months with the investment of billions of yuan, including the ecological landscape, the tourist reception center, the large parking lot, and the youth post station.

 

As of now, the Gaoyi Ridge Scenic Area has received over 1 million tourists, ranking second among the top 20 favorite scenic areas in Hunan for tourists from the Greater Bay Area.

 

On the bank of Dongjiang Lake, Chenzhou Water World is particularly eye-catching, which is the first exhibition hall in China with the theme of “Sustainable Use of Water Resources and Green Development”.

 

The development of cultural and tourism resources involves repair, construction, and utilization of idle resources.

 

The Zhiqing homestay inn in Tashui Village, Beihu District was converted from over 60 old houses. It integrates leisure and vacation, tourism and health care, and artistic creation. Zhang Kangjie, manager of the homestay inn said that the occupancy rate during the summer vacation was very high, and there was even no room available on weekends. 

 

There are only 2 of the 11 households in the Dongtouqiu Group of Jinli Village, Yongxing County. Li Haohan, who had done business outside for many years, returned to his hometown and rented the vacant houses to build a campsite called Dongtou Yedu, which has quickly become popular with tourists. During the summer vacation, there were an average of several hundred tourists a day.

 

A series of infrastructure projects have also been improved. 

 

Not long ago, the East Lake-Dakuishang Highway, which people have expected for many years in Suxian District, was finally completed. It connects many tourist attractions such as Wugai Mountain Tourist Resort, Gaofeng Reservoir, East Lake Happy World, and Changjuan Cultural and Tourism City.

 

Yang Xiaojun, director of the Suxian District Investment and Financing Service Center, said that it used to take more than 2 hours by car from Suxian Dsitrict to Wugai Mountain, but now it only needs 40 minutes.

 

In addition, the important passages in the city, such as Chenzhou Avenue, Guanshan Avenue- East Lake Ring Road, and Baohe Township-Yangtian Lake Road, after the improvement, have linked many cultural and tourism attractions together. 

 

From January to August, the number of visitors received and the total tourism revenue of the city, which increased by 75.86% and 138.63% respectively, ranked second in Hunan. 

 

 

“The smiling faces of the people are the most beautiful landscape,” said Wu Jupei, Party secretary of Chenzhou. This is the original intention to host the second Hunan Tourism Development Conference.

 

The renovation project of Shazhou Village involving the construction of Hunan (Shazhou) Red Culture and Tourism Characteristic Industrial Park, Long March National Cultural Park (Rucheng Section), and the demonstration zone for rural revitalization around Shazhou, makes Shazhou Village increasingly attractive.

 

Luo Zhihong, the owner of the Zhenshanmei homestay inn, said, “There are 10 rooms, which were booked up almost every day during the summer vacation.” He also planted 80 mu (about 5.33 hectares) of fruit, which was all sold out.

 

The West River flows through Suxian District, Beihu District, Guiyang County, and Yongxing County in Chenzhou, with 52 villages along the way. Based on the construction of the West River Rural Revitalization Demonstration Area, projects about rural tourism, agricultural experience, cultural leisure, and study and practice have been developed, paving a path for rural revitalization driven by the cultural and tourism industry. 

 

In 2022, the collective operating income of 52 villages along the West River increased by 167%, and the per capita disposable income of rural residents reached 26,808 yuan, 1.3 times the average of the city.

 

The 711 mine, established in 1964, was the first uranium mine in China’s nuclear industry, which once provided stable nuclear raw materials. In 2004, the 711 Mine withdrew from the historical stage, leaving behind more than 6,000 employees and their families. At present, more than 1,000 people still live here.

 

Due to heavy debt and aging public facilities, the living environment urgently needed to be improved.

 

This year, Suxian District completed the construction of projects such as the 711 Mine History Exhibition, the National Security Building Exhibition, and the Science and Technology Library in just 9 months, recreating the 711 Time Town with unique characteristics. 

 

On September 8, the Time Town officially opened. The barbershop and the large canteen can recall the memories of “711 people”.

 

Deng Yuzhen, 80 years old, was once a barber at the mine, saying, “The mining area that has been deserted for decades has become lively again, and it seems like it was yesterday.”

 

“I am so happy! Thank the government for making this place look like it used to be. The efforts that we once exerted then can be known by the young people. I feel very proud now!” Wang Yao, 88 years old, shed tears of happiness.

 

There are more citizens benefiting from the Second Tourism Development Conference to be held. 

 

Chenzhou has renovated 530 old urban communities, completed the home-based transformation for 1,703 elderly households, renovated 274.38 kilometers of rural roads, and treated rural domestic sewage in 38 villages.

 

The second Hunan Tourism Development Conference is about to open, and the city in new appearance is sending a sincere invitation to the world.