Authorities in Baiyin City, Gansu Province, have unveiled a series of innovative activities this year, including a lotus pond music festival, a creative market, a rural calligraphy and painting exhibition, mountain hiking trips, and patriotic song performances, to infuse cultural tourism into rural landscapes and brighten local communities, said Wang Juan, Vice Mayor of Baiyin City, on Tuesday.
She made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the 7th Baiyin Yellow River Cultural Tourism Festival held at the Shuichuan Yellow River Wetland Park in Baiyin District. Themed "Exploring the Yellow River Charm, Enjoying the Vibrant Baiyin," the festival is built around the development of the Yellow River National Cultural Park. It integrates cultural tourism, commerce, agriculture, sports, and the nighttime economy to fully unleash consumption potential and broaden income channels, aiming to transform Baiyin from a transit point along the Yellow River into a key cultural tourism destination.
Wang Juan highlighted the scenic beauty and cultural depth of the region, describing it as a place where mountains and waters create picturesque landscapes. She noted the unique grandeur of the Yellow River Stone Forest, the lush serenity of Shoulu and Has mountains, and the tranquil ripples of the Shuichuan wetlands. She also emphasized the region's rich heritage, including the enduring spirit of the Long March, the historical significance of ancient Yellow River ferries along the Silk Road, and the legacy of mining sites, alongside vibrant folk arts like paper-cutting, shadow puppetry, and local opera. Local specialties such as wenguanguo fruit, red wolfberries, tender lamb, and unique grains were also celebrated for their flavors and ties to local traditions.
In recent years, Baiyin has prioritized the cultural tourism industry as a foundation for rural revitalization and income growth. The city has implemented a "cultural tourism+" integration strategy, actively advancing the construction of the Yellow River National Cultural Park and the Gansu-Qinghai-Ningxia Greater Loop, striving to become an influential cultural tourism destination in the upper reaches of the Yellow River.
At the opening ceremony, the Yellow River served as a backdrop, lotus ponds as stages, and light and shadow as themes. Performances such as the Yellow River War Drum and situational dramas alternated, blending the majestic energy of the Yellow River with the poetic charm of wetland lotus ponds, vividly showcasing Baiyin's unique cultural tourism resources and the vitality of rural revitalization in the new era.
At a stall run by Wang Shiyi, a representative inheritor of Baiyin's first batch of intangible cultural heritage paper-cutting, visitors were captivated by his skilled scissor work and vibrant multi-color techniques. "Each time I attend a festival, I gain significant recognition—from my paper-cutting skills and creative content to myself as an artist. More people now appreciate my work, and I earn about 7,000 to 8,000 yuan per event," Wang Shiyi said. He added that the festival provides a direct path from showcasing to monetizing creative works, moving from "seeing from a distance" to "understanding" and then "purchasing."
The event also featured zones for local delicacies and agricultural products, with displays of Huining paper-cutting and traditional copper crafts, as well as offerings like Shuichuan long noodles and seasonal fruits and vegetables, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the lively atmosphere along the Yellow River.
Throughout the festival, Baiyin is hosting over ten activities, including a talent show for Baiyin tourism ambassadors, a consumption promotion event called "Exploring the Yellow River, Shopping in Baiyin," and an immersive experience of Yellow River culture themed "National Trend Meets Lotus Charm, Intangible Heritage Gets a New Life." Additionally, more than 30 travel agencies from within and outside the province have been invited to visit counties for scouting, route testing, and cooperation discussions. These efforts aim to comprehensively showcase Baiyin's achievements in high-quality development, industrial transformation, cultural tourism integration, and rural revitalization, while exploring a long-term mechanism to attract tourists to the city.
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