On October 21, during the themed press conference titled “Achieving Success in the ‘14th Five-Year Plan’ and Promoting Development,” Hu Wei, a member of the Wuwei Municipal Committee and executive vice mayor, addressed the media regarding the integration of cultural and tourism development in the region. He highlighted that Wuwei City is fostering high-quality development in its cultural and tourism industries through measures such as optimizing industry layout, exploring cultural connotations, enhancing service experiences, and deepening regional cooperation.
Since the start of the “14th Five-Year Plan,” Wuwei City has welcomed 153 million visitors, generating tourism revenue of 105.2 billion yuan, which represents increases of 125.19% and 178.97% compared to the “13th Five-Year Plan” period. The city is focused on creating a cultural and tourism industry cluster valued at 100 billion yuan, establishing a comprehensive tourism development layout characterized by “one core shining and four regions working in synergy,” and promoting unique tourism brands such as “Hometown of the Heavenly Horse: The Enchanting Liangzhou.”
In recent years, Wuwei has initiated 131 key cultural and tourism projects with a total investment of 22.4 billion yuan. Landmark projects like Hexi Metropolitan Area and Liangzhou's Seventeen Alleys have transitioned from plans to reality. The Binggou River Scenic Area is in the process of being upgraded to a 5A-rated tourist destination, with the total number of rated scenic areas in the city reaching 28. These initiatives provide strong support for the development of the cultural and tourism industry.
Cultural excavation and innovation have emerged as highlights of Wuwei's cultural and tourism development. Hu Wei noted that through a deep exploration of Liangzhou culture, the Tuyuhun Royal Tombs have been recognized as one of the "Top Ten Archaeological Discoveries in China," and seven intangible cultural heritage items have been included in the national list. The large-scale series of short videos titled “Talking About Liangzhou” has garnered over 800 million views online, while the documentary “Dreaming of Liangzhou” aired on CCTV. Additionally, “Liangzhou Drum” received the prestigious “Shanhua Award,” the highest national award for folk art.
Moreover, Wuwei City is actively integrating into the Greater Dunhuang Cultural and Tourism Economic Circle and the Gansu-Qinghai Grand Ring, enhancing collaborations with cultural tourism alliances involving the four provinces of Gansu, Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, and Qinghai. Through events like the “Moonrise at Liangzhou Poetry Festival” and the Wild Qilian Cross-Country Run, the city attracts tourists from across the nation through a blend of cultural and sports tourism. Wuwei has been honored with multiple accolades, including “Beautiful China: Best All-Domain Tourism and Leisure Destination.”
Looking ahead, Hu Wei affirmed that Wuwei City will position cultural tourism as its leading and pillar industry, committing to a greater effort in cultural preservation and business innovation, further solidifying its status as a vibrant tourism destination along the Silk Road Economic Belt.