Chongqing - On November 13, a conference was held in Chengdu to promote the joint development of a new cultural hub between Sichuan and Chongqing. This marks an important step in building the Bashu Cultural Tourism Corridor. 

The event also showcased the achievements of the Yangtze River National Cultural Park (Sichuan-Chongqing section) and presented a plan for the two regions to build a cultural highland in the new era. Local governments, institutions, and enterprises from both cities signed cooperation agreements to further boost cultural and tourism exchanges and development.

On November 13, a conference was held in Chengdu to advance the joint development of a new cultural hub between Sichuan and Chongqing. (Photo/Yin Shiyu)

In recent years, Sichuan and Chongqing’s cultural and tourism sectors have attracted significant domestic and international attention, partly due to the promotion of the Bashu Cultural Tourism Corridor. The two cities' collaboration has led to notable progress in five areas: a new collaborative mechanism, breakthroughs in reforms and innovation, advancements in major projects, growth in cultural exchange, and strengthened branding efforts.

The night view of Chongqing. (Photo/Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development)

In terms of collaboration, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the governments of Chongqing and Sichuan jointly issued the Bashu Cultural Tourism Corridor Construction Plan in 2022. Based on this plan, the two regions set up a joint working group and 36 cooperative alliances, signing 88 agreements to promote the project.

The two regions developed the Cultural and Tourism Regional Collaborative Development and Innovation Pilot Area Plan on reforms and innovation, with strong support from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Introducing the Chuanju (Sichuan Opera) Protection and Inheritance Regulations marked the first interprovincial collaborative legislation in the cultural sector. A significant reform was the creation of the Ziyang-Dazu Cultural Tourism Integration Development Demonstration Zone, which separated economic zones from administrative regions. The Sichuan-Chongqing Unified Service for tourism certificate processing has also been expanded and streamlined. Another innovative initiative, the Sichuan-Chongqing Reading Card, allows people to borrow and return books at 125 public libraries across both regions, with access to a collection of 30 million books.

In terms of major projects, significant progress has been made in the Bashu Cultural Continuity Project and research into the Archaeology of China—Bashu Civilization. Joint efforts are also underway on the Sichuan-Chongqing Mountain City System, the Sichuan-Chongqing Salt Industry, and the Sichuan Road heritage status application. Iconic cultural tourism landmarks, including the Sanxingdui National Cultural Heritage Zone, the Yangtze River and Long March National Cultural Parks (Sichuan-Chongqing sections), and the Red Army Culture Park in the Sichuan-Shaanxi area, are all advancing.

Chengdu Science Fiction Museum. (Photo/Chengdu Science Fiction Museum)

Cultural exchange has flourished with the creation of the national-level Bashu Cultural Ecological Protection Zone and the establishment of the Bashu Intangible Cultural Heritage brand. The two regions have strengthened the protection and promotion of their shared heritage, co-hosting major cultural events such as the Chengdu-Chongqing International Drama Dual-City Festival and the Sichuan Opera Festival. They also launched the Chengdu-Chongqing Culture theme to foster a unified cultural identity, featuring folk music, storytelling, and other cultural activities.

The two regions have introduced more than 70 thematic cultural tourism routes and promoted 65 new international consumer experiences. Over 500 themed trains have been launched, and initiatives like the Million Workers Tour Bashu have helped raise the Bashu Cultural Tourism Corridor profile.