On July 10, participants of the "100 Thousand Tourists from Chongqing Visit Shandong" — 2021 Chongqing Media and Travel Agency Representatives in Shandong came to Taierzhuang Ancient Town in Zaozhuang. The tourism promotion program started in 2019. Shandong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development, Officials Management Group of Shandong-Chongqing Poverty Alleviation Cooperation co-developed the "100 Thousand Tourists from Shandong Visit Chongqing", a brand of Shandong-Chongqing collaboration. This move positively contributed to the promotion of the tourist industry and culture of the latter. The "100 Thousand Tourists from Chongqing Visit Shandong" aims to thank Shandong for its continuous support to Chongqing. It will advertise the culture, history, and natural resources of the province, respond to the market and development demand, and make more popular itineraries and products to the Chongqing people.

In ancient China, Taierzhuang attracted merchants from Shanxi, Anhui, Zhejiang and saw the shaping of eight architectural styles, including Jin-style architecture, Hui-style architecture, and water town-style architecture Fujian-style architecture, European architecture, religious architecture, southern China-style architecture, and southern Shandong dwelling houses. As a result, it features the integration of southern and northern China's cultures and Chinese and foreign cultures. Besides, the low-lying Taierzhuang forced people to build houses on platforms, which formed "72 pools" and over 15-kilometer long streets and alleys connected with such pools and ditches. Taierzhuang, therefore, is reputed as one of "the most beautiful water towns in China."

Taierzhuang Ancient Town (Photo/Chongqing Municipal Development Committee of Culture and Tourism)

The battle of Taierzhuang in 1938 was a critical victory won by China after the breakout of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. However, the town was destroyed because of the battle. To speed up the development of the service industry and lead the transformation to a resource-based city, Shandong province commenced the reconstruction of the Taierzhuang Ancient Town in 2008. The project was completed in 2013 with a total investment of 2.6 billion yuan (about 0.4 billion U.S. dollars). It covers two square kilometers, and the ancient buildings' floor area totals 370,000 square meters. Scholars spoke highly of the move, saying, "it is a pioneering project in the history of ancient city preservation." Taierzhuang Ancient Town was identified as the first cross-strait exchange base in China, the first national cultural heritage park, a national 5A tourist attraction, and a united front education base of Shandong province.

Chongqing media and travel agency representatives reviewed the tragic battle and soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the country by visiting the Battle of Taierzhuang Memorial Hall, buildings with bullet-riddled walls, and the ancient canal used during the Ming and Qing dynasties. In Zaozhuang, visitors can see sculling boats slowly sail on the river, listen to beautiful singing, enjoy crystal clear spring water under bridges, and drink a cup of mellow baijiu brewed by time-honored workshops. The tranquil town makes people mistakenly think they are in canal towns in the south of the Yangtze. Taierzhuang Ancient Town once laid waste, has taken on an entirely new outlook. This new landmark of Shandong province will continue to inherit and promote Chinese culture.