Hechi's cultural tourism industry boosts economic development

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, Hechi has utilized its cultural resources in ecology, longevity, ethnic customs, as well as red history to bolster the development of its cultural and tourism industries, which has boosted the city's high-quality economic and social development.

Over the past decade, the total number of tourists and total tourism consumption in Hechi have increased at a growth rate of about 30 percent per year (not included in the index comparison of 2020), ranking first in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

Hechi has strong folk customs, which attract many people. The city is home to eight ethnic groups, including the Zhuang, Han, and Yao, with ethnic minorities accounting for 85 percent of its total population.

Currently, Hechi has 55 A-level tourist attractions, two Guangxi holistic tourism demonstration areas, two Guangxi famous tourism counties, and two national key villages for rural tourism.

On Aug 20, Hechi Garden Expo Park opened for trial operation at the bank of Jinshan Lake, where 14 districts and cities in Guangxi demonstrate the beauty of horticulture.

An aerial view of Hechi Garden Expo Park. [Photo/Hechi Daily]

Over the past decade, Hechi has promoted the integration of primary, secondary, and tertiary industries, as well as explored new development paths like "cultural tourism + agriculture", "cultural tourism + forestry", and "cultural tourism + industry".

Hechi has focused on the construction of a holistic tourism pattern, forming the overall tourism development pattern of "one place, one area, and two belts," in which the one place refers to Bama International Longevity and Health Preserving Tourist Attraction, the one area is Liu Sanjie Ethnic Custom Tourist Attraction, while the two belts are the Baili Longjiang River Ethnic Culture and Ecological Tourism Belt, as well as the Hongshui Riverside Tourism, Leisure, and Health Preserving Belt.