Hukou Waterfall of the Yellow River in Jixian County, Shanxi Province "Golden Waterfall Flying Stream" landscape. Xinhua News Agency
Tourists experience sheepskin rafts in the Lanzhou section of the Yellow River in Gansu Province. Xinhua News Agency
The embankment ecological corridor landscape belt built in the Baili Yellow River Scenic Area in Jinan, Shandong. Xinhua News Agency
In Luoyang, Henan Province, cycling enthusiasts ride in the Cangtou Town section of Xin'an County along the Yellow Ecological Corridor. Photo by Zhang Yixi/Guangming Pictures
In the ancient town of Luliang, Shanxi, villagers display their cloth tigers. Xinhua News Agency
Out of the snowy region, through the gorge, a thousand miles, rushing into the sea. The Yellow River, which stretches for more than 10,000 miles and flows through nine provinces and regions, is either calm and gentle, or turbulent and agitated, with different styles. Since ancient times, it has fascinated countless tourists, and it still is.
A few days ago, General Secretary Xi Jinping presided over a symposium on comprehensively promoting the ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin, and once again mentioned the construction of the Yellow River Cultural Tourism Belt. As early as 2020, General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed to "build a cultural tourism belt of the Yellow River with international influence". Subsequently, the relevant content of the construction of the Yellow River Cultural Tourism Belt was successively written into the Outline of the Yellow River Basin Ecological Protection and High-quality Development Plan, the Yellow River Protection Law and other documents. Over the past few years, the provinces along the Yellow River have actively promoted the construction of the Yellow River cultural tourism belt in combination with their own characteristics, such as water play, inter-provincial cooperation, site development, and ecological protection...... A "big hand" of the Yellow River cultural tourism jumped out.
[Frontline Story]
Walk through the city calmly, and live comfortably by the river
Narrator: He Wei, Deputy Director of Lanzhou Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism
Speaking of the Yellow River, many friends from other places will find it choppy and inaccessible. But for a Lanzhou native like me, who grew up by the Yellow River, it is calm, gentle, and friendly.
When night falls, the iron bridges, pavilions, mountains, and white towers are gradually lit up by lights, and the banks of the Yellow River are full of light. Ships full of tourists sail smoothly on the water, the route passes through the main urban area of Lanzhou City, passing through Zhongshan Bridge, Baita Mountain and other famous scenic spots, and the new charm of the era of the ancient golden city is coming.
The berthing of the ship is a series of tea stalls. Whenever friends from other places come, I always invite them to sit on the tea stall, leisurely taste the three forts on the deck chairs, blow the cool river breeze, and feel the unique lifestyle of Lanzhou people. The riverside night market is crowded, and local delicacies such as roast mutton, fried noodles and slurry water surface attract diners from all over the world. The theatrical performances staged on the riverside from time to time also enrich the nightlife of citizens and tourists. As one of the first batch of national cultural and tourism consumption pilot cities, Lanzhou has created a number of multi-format night consumption clusters, and the catering economy and night economy are booming.
On February 1, 2023, the Measures for the Protection of the Yellow River Culture in Lanzhou City were officially implemented, creating a precedent for legislation on the protection of the Yellow River culture in mainland cities. The measures have defined the scope of the cultural resources of the Yellow River, formulated specific measures for the protection, inheritance and promotion of the Yellow River culture, and laid the foundation for the construction of a new pattern of cultural tourism in the Yellow River.
We are very pleased to see that since the beginning of this year, the popularity of cultural tourism in Lanzhou has continued to rise, and "enjoying the beautiful scenery of the Yellow River", "visiting the Yellow River Iron Bridge", "taking a cruise on the Yellow River" and "listening to the story of the Yellow River" have become a trend, and the city's Spring Festival, May Day, and Dragon Boat Festival holiday tourist reception volume has continued to set a new record.
This past summer, the Lanzhou Marathon attracted 40,000 runners at home and abroad to gather in Lanzhou to sing and run together with the Mother River and feel the vitality and enthusiasm of the city.
With the start of the Lanzhou Marathon, the Yellow River Marathon series was also launched simultaneously, with the participation of Wuzhong, Zhengzhou, Dongying and other cities along the Yellow River. The event not only leverages economic growth, but also drives more people to protect the mother river in a healthy way.
On both sides of the Yellow River, there are endless ancient rhymes and new sounds. Having worked in the cultural tourism industry for more than ten years, I have seen that Lanzhou is changing with each passing day thanks to the hard work of the sons and daughters of the Yellow River. The continuous integration and development of cultural tourism has promoted the continuous improvement of the city's service capacity. Lanzhou continues to move forward in the pace of 10,000 people marathon, passionate in the singing of the Yellow River chorus, and peaceful and calm in the endless flow of the Yellow River.
The mouth of the pot is agitated, and "the goodness of Qin and Jin" continues a new chapter
Narrator: Wu Jimin, Director of the Hukou Waterfall Scenic Area Development Center of the Yellow River, Linfen City, Shanxi Province
Hukou Waterfall, a bright pearl inlaid in the middle of the Jinshan Gorge and the southern section of the northern main stream of the Yellow River, has become the soul symbol of the loess with its majestic majesty as the world's largest yellow waterfall. Here, the steepness of the Yellow River Gorge and the vastness of the Loess Plateau complement each other, and the rushing and roaring waterfalls add the finishing touch to this magnificent natural landscape. The rich historical and cultural landscapes are like treasures carefully carved over the years, putting on a heavy cultural coat for this land and attracting countless travelers.
Hukou Waterfall is located at the junction of Ji County in Shanxi Province and Yichuan County in Shaanxi Province. With the construction of the Yellow River Cultural Tourism Belt, the two places have coordinated the joint development of Hukou Waterfall, continuing to write a new chapter of the Yellow River of "Qin and Jin".
On July 15, 2022, the Hukou Waterfall Area of the Yellow River successfully created a national 5A-level scenic spot. Jixian County and Yichuan jointly established the "High-quality Development Committee of Hukou Waterfall Scenic Area of the Yellow River", which implements a system of double team leaders and two members, which is like a bridge and closely connects the forces of the two provinces.
Again and again, the field trips and the collision of ideas have rejuvenated the Hukou Scenic Area. From staff to cultural scholars to ordinary people, everyone sat around and discussed how to make the spout more dazzling. Some propose to strengthen infrastructure construction to make tourists more comfortable; Others emphasize the need to dig deep into the cultural connotation, so that every scenic spot can tell a moving story; There is also a focus on ecological protection to ensure that this beauty can be passed on from generation to generation......
After many consultations, the two provinces reached a broad consensus: the official name of Hukou Scenic Area is unified as "Hukou Waterfall Tourist Area of the Yellow River", the ticket price is set uniformly, and the preferential policies are mutually referenced; The introduction of the scenic spot, the signs and the slogans are uniformly designed, and the "Jixian County, Shanxi, ·· China" and "Yichuan, Shaanxi· · China" stand side by side; At the same time, the website includes consultation, complaints, and rescue calls from the two provinces, and digital platforms such as official accounts use the same logo and text information, and establish convenient link procedures...... This series of measures not only realizes the "five unifications" of co-management organization, image identification, ticket price, complaint handling, and external publicity, but also lays a solid foundation for the development of Hukou Scenic Area.
Of course, our collaboration is much more than that. Mutual promotion of products, information sharing, and policy reciprocity...... We have maintained active contacts at all levels such as provinces, cities, counties, and scenic spots, and promoted the formation of an efficient cooperation model.
In the near future, we are building special tourism routes, opening up the tourism service platform of Hukou Scenic Area in Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces, and striving to promote the free flow of tourists between the two provinces through joint tickets, so as to jointly build Hukou Scenic Area better and help the ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin.
The fertile wilderness of the Central Plains has been revitalized by cultural heritage
Narrator: Min Xiangpeng, Vice Dean of the School of History and Culture, Henan University
Crossing the vast wilderness of the Central Plains, the Yellow River is like a beautiful ribbon. It has not only witnessed the vicissitudes of thousands of years, but also nourished Henan, a treasure land full of rich history and cultural essence. With the construction of the Yellow River Cultural Tourism Belt, my colleagues and I have witnessed the new achievements made by Henan in the protection of cultural heritage.
There is a small village called Yangshao Village in Mianchi County, Sanmenxia City, Henan Province. Here, it is the cradle of Yangshao culture, and it is also the place where it gets its name. In recent years, with the promotion of the ecological protection and high-quality development strategy of the Yellow River Basin, Sanmenxia City has decided to build a cultural tourism resort integrating site protection, archaeological experience, sightseeing and leisure - Yangshao Village National Archaeological Site Park on this ancient land. There are a number of interactive experience areas in the park, where visitors can participate in simulated archaeological excavation activities and touch those ancient relics that have been sleeping for thousands of years. You can also watch live performances and feel the life scenes of Yangshao ancestors. In addition, the park has also developed a series of cultural and creative products, so that visitors can enjoy the beautiful scenery while taking away a memory of Yangshao.
The in-depth implementation of the construction policy of the Yellow River Cultural Tourism Belt has not only made the light of Yangshao culture more dazzling, but also promoted the protection, inheritance and revitalization of other sites such as Shuanghuai Tree and Erlitou. The Shuanghuaishu site is actively integrated into the construction of the Yellow River cultural tourism belt, skillfully integrates the surrounding cultural and cultural relics resources, and creates landmark projects such as the Shuanghuaishu National Archaeological Site Park. As one of the landmark sites of the Yellow River culture, the Erlitou site has been completed and opened to the public one after another, such as the Ruins Museum and the National Archaeological Site Park, which has built a bridge for the public to understand the profound heritage of Xia Dynasty culture and Yellow River culture.
We see that Henan is not only committed to the protection of cultural heritage, but also uses the power of creativity and technology to allow tourists to deeply feel the charming charm of history during the tour. For example, the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang use 3D digital technology and 3D printing technology to carry out virtual restoration of the shape and color of the statues in the grottoes. By downloading the "Dragon Gate on the Cloud" app, visitors can enjoy the near and far views of more than 100 scenic spots.
Through the protection of archaeological sites, the study of the Yellow River culture, and the promotion of the integration of culture and tourism, the ancient Yellow River culture has radiated new brilliance in the new era.
Flowing into the sea, man and nature coexist in harmony
Narrator: Wang Zhongmin, Director of the Ecotourism Center of the Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve in Shandong
The Yellow River flows from Dongying, Shandong Province into the sea through nine bends and eighteen bends, creating a unique Yellow River Delta, the most intact and youngest wetland ecosystem in China's warm temperate zone.
With excellent ecological environment, dense vegetation and abundant aquatic plants, it is a veritable "bird paradise". Walking through the wetlands, the water is rippling and migratory birds are flocking. They stroll leisurely, chant comfortably, or soar with wings, and the scenery is breathtaking.
Since I joined the Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve in 2008, I have been engaged in eco-tourism and have witnessed the gradual development of eco-tourism in the nature reserve. In recent years, relying on the unique natural endowment of the Yellow River Delta to carry out popular science education has been one of our key tasks.
In order to enhance the core attractiveness, we have actively expanded the popular science research format, created a number of popular science education positions such as the White Stork Lake Wetland Nature Experience Area, the Yellow River Cruise Terminal, and the Yellow River Estuary VR Experience Hall, and designed research courses such as "Exploring the Formation of the Yellow River Delta".
Here, students can walk into the Yellow River Delta Bird Museum, the largest bird museum in the country, enjoy more than 1,400 lifelike bird specimens, learn about bird migration, interact with the birds in the bird science park at close range, and walk on the natural willow forest plank road to wander in the greenery of the Yellow River estuary. According to statistics, the "Walking the Yellow River Estuary Ecological Classroom" nature education activity held by us attracts more than 30,000 primary and secondary school students every year.
In terms of infrastructure construction, we pay attention to highlighting ecological characteristics, and have successively invested in the construction of key service facilities such as ecological monitoring centers, ecological parking lots, and 3A ecological toilets, so as to realize the coordinated development of ecological protection and eco-tourism.
This summer, the Yellow River Estuary Migratory Bird Habitat was successfully designated as a World Natural Heritage Site, which is a great encouragement and spur for us. Facing the future, I will continue to be a good disseminator and practitioner of the concept of ecological civilization, scientifically use the three world-class tourism resources of "river and sea confluence, new wetlands, and wild birds", continue to improve the service facilities for science popularization and ecological experience, enrich the platform system of science popularization and education in the Yellow River Estuary National Park, carry out more distinctive ecological research and science education activities, and widely disseminate the concept of ecological civilization that respects nature, conforms to nature, and protects nature.
(Project team: reporters Jia Yueyang, Wang Bingya, Shang Jie, Yang Jue, Li Jianbin, Wang Shengxi, Song Xiqun, Feng Fan, Chen Yuan, Shang Yawen, reporters of this newspaper)