"You must visit Chongqing once in your life, to feel the breeze touching your skin along the Jialing River, stroll on the beautiful Nanbin Road, immerse yourself in the crowded Hongyadong, and have a special summer day in the Mountain City." With glamorous landscape pictures of Chongqing, the attractive words go viral online, fanning the flames of curiosity about Chongqing around the world.

Robust growth in culture tourism

As a popular tourism destination in China, Chongqing saw robust growth in the culture and tourism industry.

Each holiday, tourists swarm into the Mountain City to try delicious food and enjoy appealing scenery, to understand the slogan of A Tour in Chongqing, A Gain in Vision.

"Chongqing is hailed as 'the most tourist-friendly city.' To live up to people's expectations, we have decided to release more favorable policies," said Liu Qi, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Secretary of CPC Committee, and Director of Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development.

"We would develop Chongqing into the happiest tourism destination, making both locals and visitors feel happy here," Liu added.

Liu Qi, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Secretary of CPC Committee, and Director of Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development. (iChongqing file photo)

Culture tourism is the internal strength and an external image of a city. Chongqing has been celebrating recovery in the culture and tourism industry over the past several years. In 2021, it was awarded one of China's most popular tourist destinations.

Bashu Cultural Tourism Corridor

Liu has been trying to figure out a development path for the industry.

"According to this year's government work report, we should accelerate the construction of the world-renowned culture and tourism destination, promote the development of the Bashu Cultural Tourism Corridor, build cultural industry demonstration bases, and create 5A tourist attractions, national tourist resorts, and national demonstration city of culture and tourism consumption, to improve the influence of Great City, Great Three Gorges and Great Wuling.' Since last year, I have been working on developing the Bashu Cultural Tourism Corridor," said Liu.

Liu Qi introduced that mountains and rivers in the regions of Ba and Shu have been well-known since ancient times. Besides, the regions feature profound culture, abundant resources, and distinctive characteristics. Chengdu and Chongqing keep frequent trade flows under strong economic ties. The similar regional culture and folk blood ties have formed a solid foundation for their cultural cooperation.

"To advance construction of Bashu Cultural Tourism Corridor and strive for new progress, Chongqing will put more effort into in-depth and refined development," said Liu Qi. The city will endeavor to build an international consumption destination rich in Bashu characteristics and a world-class leisure resort to achieve more results in the corridor construction. In addition, the city will carry out in-depth cooperation in expanding regional tourism markets, focusing on food, accommodation, and travel in the regions of Ba and Shu.

Laifeng Station, one of the four famous stations in Bashu, has been recreated in Gudaowan Park, Bishan District, Chongqing. (iChongqing file photo)

During this year's national Two Sessions, Liu Qi will pay constant attention to the corridor construction. "Bashu Cultural Tourism Corridor' belongs not only to Sichuan and Chongqing but also to the world. In the future, we can make efforts in three aspects to further deepen the institutional mechanism of cooperation and co-construction, further enhance the international visibility of Bashu culture and tourism brands, and further increase the investment in public culture and tourism services," suggested Liu Qi.

He added that Sichuan and Chongqing should pursue in-depth cooperation in food, accommodation, travel, tourism, shopping, and entertainment in the regions of Ba and Shu and improve the living, culture, and tourism environments for residents along Bashu Cultural Tourism Corridor.