Chongqing - Boasting the reputation of "A Land of Natural Beauty, A City with Cultural Appeal," Chongqing has garnered widespread worldwide popularity. Chongqing ranked first in the World's Top 10 Fastest Growing Tourism Cities, released by the World Travel & Tourism Council for two consecutive years from 2017 to 2018. International travel magazines have also rated it as one of the world's top 10 tourism destinations and one of the world's top 10 most promising destinations. According to a survey by China Tourism Academy, Chongqing is the most popular city for Chinese people to visit in recent years.

As the central area of Chongqing, Yuzhong District plays a vital role in Chongqing's cultural tourism development. Recently, Li Jiajing, director of the Yuzhong District Commission of Culture and Tourism Development in Chongqing, took an interview with iChongqing, introducing how Yuzhong District has contributed to Chongqing's cultural tourism development.

Yuzhong's profound cultural heritage boosts Chongqing's global popularity

As the mother city of Chongqing, Yuzhong District contains a profound cultural heritage integrated with Bayu Culture, the War of Resistance Culture, and the Hongyan Spirit. "Yuzhong will continue to explore its deep history and host cultural exchanges with foreign countries, to have Yuzhong become the 'window' of Chongqing, showcasing the city's historical and cultural heritage, as well as act as the 'reception hall' of cultural exchanges with foreign countries," said Li Jiajing.

"We will take three courses of action to achieve our vision. First, develop the 'three revolutionary villages,' discover revolutionary stories in the urban area, intensify cooperation between revolutionary museums, and build an array of revolutionary culture demonstration bases where people can read and interact to learn more about revolutionary culture. Second, maintain the historical streets and blocks, allowing visitors from home and abroad to fully experience the thousand-year-long Bayu lifestyle. Third, take full advantage of Yuzhong's foreign affairs history, utilize former sites of foreign institutions, and build a platform for international communication. These actions will allow us to create abundant hotspots and accommodations to make Yuzhong a world-renowned cultural tourism destination."

Yuzhong's total number of tourists received and tourism revenue both ranked first in Chongqing

In recent years, Yuzhong has concentrated on the construction of 'Cultural Yuzhong' and has strived to build a world-renowned cultural tourism destination, resulting in being awarded honorary titles including 'National Cultural and Tourism Consumption Model City' and 'National Nighttime Cultural Tourism Consumption Cluster.' In 2021, the values of the culture and tourism industry registered at 8.71 billion yuan and 10.6 billion yuan, accounting for 5.7% and 7% of the district's GDP, respectively. Yuzhong District received 50.4 million tourists and achieved a tourism revenue of 41.83 billion yuan, an increase of 13.5% and 29.7% year-over-year, respectively. The number of tourists received and tourism revenue ranked first in Chongqing. The culture and tourism industries have become core industries in Yuzhong District.

Measures have been taken to ensure consumption vitality

Yuzhong has shaped a 'culture-commerce-tourism' integrated development pattern and established the urban cultural and tourism development vision of building Yuzhong District into a place suitable for tourism, living, and business.

First, Yuzhong has adhered to developing the city with culture, promoted the inheritance and revitalization of history and culture, and continuously launched new consumption scenarios and business cards for Chongqing. Efforts have been made to improve traditional blocks and historic streets, including Shibati Old Street, Shancheng Alley, Daijia Alley, and Three-layer Road, giving every street a distinctive feature and reproducing the prosperity in Chongqing. Three blocks were selected for National Nighttime Cultural and Tourism Consumption Clusters. Greater Eling Scenic Area has become a national 5A-rated tourist attraction, and Shibati Old Street is an intangible cultural heritage tourist block.

Secondly, Yuzhong has enriched consumption scenarios and product supply. It has effectively integrated culture and art, urban form, natural environment, and commercial activities. In addition to the consumption scenarios with Yuzhong characteristics, including skywalks, riverbanks, footpaths, and caves, Yuzhong also launched selected routes, such as the 'Leisure Tour' and 'City in the Sky.' At the same time, 'Train bound for Spring,' 'Eye over the Clouds,' 'Market in the Sky,' and other scenic areas quickly emerged one after another.

Thirdly, Yuzhong has hosted influential and well-known festivals and activities, such as Chongqing International Urban Culture and Tourism Consumption Festival and Chongqing International Coffee Festival, further advancing the upgrading of culture and tourism consumption.

Attractions in Yuzhong District are favored by foreign friends

As the director of Chongqing Yuzhong Commission of Culture and Tourism Development, Ms. Li Jiajing is willing to recommend three tourist attractions: nature, culture, and urban traveling.

For nature, Yuzhong is built on mountains and surrounded by water on three sides, with scattered buildings of varying height, hailed as the '8D Magic City' and 'A Standing Three-dimensional City.' CRT Liziba Station, the 'City of Sky' with a phenomenal high-altitude viewing platform at the United International Mansion, which can't be ignored.

For culture, Yuzhong has the most complete historical heritage and the richest cultural heritage in Chongqing. Bayu Culture, Immigrant Culture, the War of Resistance Culture against aggression, and the Hongyan Spirit have integrated and developed. Foreign friends can visit Ba Manzi Tomb, Huguang Guild Hall, Hongyan Village, Chongqing People's Auditorium, and Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum. It is worth mentioning that Yuzhong District has gathered foreign-related cultural relics and historical buildings, such as the former sites of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, the Embassy of the United States, and the Legation of Turkey.

For urban traveling, Yuzhong has abundant folk culture and features. Stilted building clusters, alleys in the mountain city, and Bayu dwellings complement each other. Local specialties such as Chongqing noodles and hotpot are everywhere around the street. Beautiful scenery shows the distinctive Oriental charm, such as Hongyadong, Shancheng Alley, Luzu Temple, and the Three-storey Road.

Ms. Li said as Chongqing is showing exceptional beauty to the world in every aspect, Yuzhong is the indispensable booster and will play its unique, vital role.