The Greater Zhangjiajie International Tourism Area recently welcomed its first high-speed rail tour group from Hong Kong this year. From April 3 to 7, 619 Hong Kong tourists embarked on a five-day in-depth cultural tour to explore Zhangjiajie and Fenghuang Ancient Town.

The Hong Kong tour group enjoys ethnic song and dance performances at the railway station. (Photo provided by the organizer)

To welcome these guests coming from afar, the organizers arranged song and dance welcoming ceremonies at Zhangjiajie West Station and Fenghuang Ancient Town Station. Over the following days, the Hong Kong tourists had a schedule to visit Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Baofeng Lake, and Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park. Following in the footsteps of the famous early 20th-century Chinese writer Shen Congwen, the tourists explored ancient courtyards and alleys, took a boat trip along the misty Tuojiang River, and enjoyed the nightscape with brilliant lights, savoring the cultural charm of Fenghuang Ancient Town, known as "China's Most Beautiful Town." To showcase the unique charm of western Hunan culture, the organizer hosted a variety of cultural experience activities over their itinerary. In addition to ethnic song and dance performances, the tourists joined in a Tujia-style long table banquet and watched live performances by Tujia intangible cultural heritage inheritors, including the welcoming drum, the lanmen wine ceremony, and the toasting ritual, immersing themselves in the unique ethnic customs of western Hunan.

The tourists enjoy folk customs. (Photo provided by the organizer)

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

Translator: Xiao Juan 

Chinese source: hunantoday