Exploring five underground karst caves, immersive interactions with Hanfu-clad NPCs, and local specialty products bazaars... On February 21, the Meishan Dragon Palace in Xinhua County was bustling with nearly 4, 000 tourists who visited free of charge through reservation. During the Spring Festival, the county launched 57 public-benefit activities under the theme "A Bubbling Hot Year in Xinhua County", with all county-level tourist attractions offering free admission, presenting a New Year cultural tourism scene of comprehensive tourism and public participation.

The Spring Festival activities covered 30 townships and villages, each with its own focus while maintaining coordinated efforts across the county. The pre-festival period centered on welcoming the new year and benefiting farmers through consumption, with events ranging from a housing fair and a live-streamed folk singer competition to a free rice wine tasting and a village-style short video contest, covering consumption, experiences, competitions, etc. During the festival, the focus was on folk revelry and diverse experiences. On Xiangdong Street in Shangmei Ancient Town, there were successive dragon and lion dance performances, intangible cultural heritage shows, and New Year folk markets. The Ziquejie Terraced Fields hosted the Nine-Bend Dragon Soiree Feast, Tianping Town held a Leicha Culture Festival, and Zhenshang Town featured village-style martial arts competitions, all showcasing Meishan characteristics. The post-festival period emphasized sustained excitement and a joyful conclusion, with intangible cultural heritage performances in Caojia Town, a lantern riddle party on Xiangdong Street, and a lantern festival at the Chetianjiang Scenic Area, among others.

Xinhua County is located in the hinterland of Meishan in central Hunan, boasting unique tourism resources and profound cultural heritage. Mountains, karst caves, terraced fields, and forests form a diverse ecotourism landscape, while traditions such as Meishan martial arts, Xinhua folk songs, and Leicha making have been passed down through generations. This campaign offered great benefits to the public. During the event period, all scenic spots in the county, including core attractions such as Daxiong Mountain, Meishan Dragon Palace, Ziquejie Terraced Fields, and Sanliandong Scenic Area, were open for free. Additionally, 100 million yuan worth of cultural tourism consumption vouchers were distributed, covering diverse aspects such as dining, accommodation, shopping, and cultural tourism experiences.

This article is from Hunan Provincial Government. www.enghunan.gov.cn.  

Translator: Pang Yuehui

Chinese source: hunan.gov.cn