The "2026 Overseas Chinese Media and Community Leaders Sichuan-Chongqing Tour – Focusing on the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle Construction" joint visit recently explored Chongqing's Rongchang District. Participants visited An Tao Town, Wanling Ancient Town, and Xia Bu Town, witnessing how this gateway city leverages intangible cultural heritage as its core and towns as its carriers to pioneer a new model for revitalizing local economies.
Capitalizing on its unique cultural assets, Rongchang has moved away from homogeneous development models. Instead, it has strategically planned three themed towns—An Tao, Wanling, and Xia Bu—creating a diverse and multi-layered economic landscape centered around these townships.
An Tao Town: A Ceramic Legacy Reborn
An Tao Town, with over 800 years of pottery-making history, is the birthplace of Rongchang Pottery, one of China's four famous ceramics, and is recognized as a national-level intangible cultural heritage town. It has transformed beyond a traditional handicraft village or a mere tourist attraction. The town now gathers master artisans who operate workshops, regularly hosts pottery-making experiences and kiln study tours, and has attracted leading enterprises to drive industrial upgrades. This shift is propelling traditional pottery towards a high-end, functional ceramics industry.
A visiting media leader noted that An Tao Town challenges the overseas stereotype of traditional crafts as "old-fashioned, niche, and backward." By integrating technological innovation, the ancient craft achieves industrial evolution, blending cultural warmth with modern sophistication. This model of modernizing traditional skills holds significant value for international promotion.
Wanling Ancient Town: A Hub for Cultural Tourism and Consumption
Wanling Ancient Town, rich in historical charm and waterside scenery, has developed a strong folk culture identity. Its strategy focuses on "festival empowerment, scene-driven traffic, and consumption quality enhancement," continuously enriching its tourism offerings. The town regularly hosts events like the Dragon Boat Festival races and folk parades, effectively revitalizing its millennia-old cultural and tourism resources. This approach has successfully increased income for local businesses and created jobs for residents.
Another international media representative observed that Wanling Ancient Town has preserved the authentic texture and lively atmosphere of the Bayu water town, seamlessly integrating traditional culture into daily life. This model of "living heritage and immersive experience" is particularly appealing to both domestic and international visitors.
Xia Bu Town: Weaving a New Future for Heritage
Xia Bu Town focuses on "heritage revitalization and market transformation." It has gathered dozens of companies related to grass cloth (Xia Bu), forming a complete industrial chain from raw material weaving and工艺 innovation to cultural product design and final sales. The town has also developed immersive cultural tourism streets and特色 night markets, stimulating public consumption.
A European media editor commented that through market-oriented, fashionable, and lifestyle-focused innovations, Rongchang's grass cloth has moved from a niche heritage item into the mainstream consumer market, aligning with modern trends.
The Power of Distinctive Identities
Each town cultivates a unique identity, generating distinct local economic momentum. Statistics show that in 2025, Rongchang District received 28.8 million tourist visits, a year-on-year increase of 44.22%, generating tourism revenue of 16.128 billion yuan, up 45.02%. The three特色 towns work in synergy, releasing combined cultural, tourism, and industrial effects. This creates a virtuous cycle of "cultural attraction, industrial implementation, consumption upgrading, and resident income growth," forming the core support for Rongchang's "township economy."
As development of the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle deepens, Rongchang, leveraging its strategic gateway位置, will continue to refine its intangible cultural heritage towns. The district aims to continuously improve industrial formats, innovate product systems, and enhance service quality to amplify the agglomeration effect of its township-based economic model.
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