Heritage tourism engages Chinese tourists with rich cultural experiences during National Day holiday

Cities across China have been offering visitors rich and immersive cultural experiences through intangible cultural heritage exhibitions and hands-on activities during the seven-day National Day holiday, which began on October 1.
Throughout the holiday, large crowds have gathered at the China Arts and Crafts Museum in Beijing, waiting in line to explore its attractions. In addition to its permanent exhibits, the museum introduced a new exhibition themed “Splendid China”, showcasing a wide array of traditional embroidery from various regions and ethnic groups across the country, alongside contemporary innovations in the art form.
Meanwhile, Tang Paradise, a large cultural theme park showing the lifestyle of the prosperous Tang Dynasty (618-907) in Xi’an City of northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, saw daily visitor numbers surging by nearly 25 percent compared to last year. The park responded to the demand by tripling its daily performances of Xi’an drum music, an art form listed as a national ICH in 2006. Previously, the park had hosted just one performance per day.
“It was breathtaking when all the drums played together. The whole scene was incredible,” said Wang Liuyi, a tourist.
A heritage street in Lijin County of east China’s Shandong Province immersed visitors in the rich culture of the Yellow River, known as China’s “Mother River” and the cradle of Chinese civilization. Traditional performances were staged, including drum shows and yangko dances, a rural Chinese folk dance, filling the streets with a festive atmosphere that drew in many curious onlookers.
Alongside the shows, many tourists also had the opportunity to create their own small clay items from the Yellow River mud, adding a personal touch to their cultural experience.
“The clay comes from the Yellow River, from our land. It’s amazing how such simple material can be turned into exquisite crafts,” said Zhang Yihan, a tourist.
According to China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, nearly a thousand cultural heritage-related events were held nationwide during the holiday, blending heritage with tourism to enrich the experiences of travelers across China.
The National Day holiday, which runs from October 1 to 7, marks a peak period for travel and tourism in China.
Heritage tourism engages Chinese tourists with rich cultural experiences during National Day holiday
Spectacular fireworks display is presented at Hepu County of Beihai City in south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in the ongoing week-long National Day holiday, captivating tourists as they admire the stunning scenery of the historic port first built in ancient China’s Han Dynasty (202 BC-AD 220).
The county once served as a port of departure along the ancient Maritime Silk Road because of its convenient land-sea transportation.
Over recent years, Beihai City has focused on developing a unique tourism style, drawing on its rich cultural heritage linked to the Maritime Silk Road, local fishing customs, and its pearl industry. This has led to the flourishing of seaside resorts, leisure cruise marinas, and tourist towns, significantly boosting the local tourism industry.
As night falls, an interactive show performed on the stage along the seaside narrates the story of a pearl fisher’s life and the rise of the Maritime Silk Road in historical times. More than 100 actors engage the audience in a vivid dialog with the area’s ancient history.
During this National Day holiday, new fireworks and the latest stage design have dazzled tourists, creating an immersive experience that offered an eye-catching display.
From September 30 to October 6, this fireworks display has been staged for seven consecutive days. The brilliant bursts ignited visitors’ enthusiasm, elevating the festival atmosphere to new heights.
“I come from Liuzhou City. The live stage performance is fun and engaging. I am thrilled by the brilliant fireworks show, which goes beyond my expectations. This trip is definitely worthwhile,” said Liu Fen, a tourist.
During the holiday, the scenic area is bustling with visitors wandering against a backdrop of grand fireworks display, capturing impressive moments in photos as they make heartfelt wishes.
“Our future will be better. May our country enjoy prosperity and our people live in peace and harmony!” said Gan Boxuan, another tourist.
Spectacular fireworks show lights up departure port on ancient Maritime Silk Road
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