Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture Overview — Tourism (I)
Chapter 9: Tourism. Xiangxi is richly endowed with tourism resources. Since tourism began developing in 1979, with the successive opening of a large number of high-quality scenic areas (sites) and driven by the tourism industry's leading strategy, a comprehensive, complementary tourism network — rich in content, complete in facilities and clearly tiered — has taken shape.
This article has been compiled from historical materials in the "Zhangjiajie Tour Guide Network" (33519.com · City Overview section). Some administrative divisions, population, socioeconomic data, and policy information may be outdated and are for reference only; for the latest situation, please refer to official releases by the local government and scenic areas.
Chapter Nine Tourism
The Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture has uniquely favorable tourism resources. Since it began developing tourism in 1979, with the successive opening of a large number of high-quality tourism scenic areas (spots), and driven by the strategy of tourism industry development, a comprehensive, complementary tourism network with rich and varied content, complete supporting projects, and clear levels has already formed. The Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture has developed into a new-type tourist destination characterized by mountain and water scenery and ethnic customs, integrating rafting tourism, karst cave exploration, vacation tourism, economic trade, cultural relic appreciation, and historical and cultural research, becoming the bridgehead of tourism in western China and a new fine point, hot spot, and shining point.
Section One Tourism Resources
The Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture is extremely rich in tourism resources. The region has beautiful mountains and rivers, charming scenery, profound historical and cultural accumulation, and rich ethnic customs, and has long been known to the world for its "mystery."
The tourism resources of the Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture have the following characteristics:
First, high quality. In 2005, within the prefecture there were 1 national historical and cultural city (Fenghuang), 2 national forest parks (Nanhua Mountain in Fenghuang and Bu'er Gate in Yongshun), 1 national nature reserve (Xiaoxi in Yongshun), 3 national key cultural relic protection units (the Xizhou Bronze Pillar, the Old Tusi City in Yongshun, and the Liye Warring States ancient city site), 1 national historical and cultural town (Liye in Longshan), 2 national key scenic areas (Mengdong River in Yongshun and Dehang in Jishou), 2 national geoparks (Bagong Mountain, Tianxing Mountain, and Sanmen Cave in Fenghuang, and the Red Stone Forest in Guzhang), 2 national industrial tourism demonstration sites (Jiugui Industrial Park and Laodie Industrial Park), and 1 national classic red tourism scenic area (Tawo in Yongshun); provincial-level brands include the Fenghuang Scenic Area, Longshan Pidu River Scenic Area, Guzhang Qifeng Lake Scenic Area, and the Fenghuang Liangtouyang Jiuchongyan Provincial Nature Reserve, 4 in total, as well as 15 provincial key cultural relic protection units. The Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture was rated as one of the 2006 Top Ten Charming Cities in China and one of China's best tourist destinations. Fenghuang Ancient City is praised by people as a "hometown in dreams" and a "homeland gone far away." The Southern Great Wall is called the most charming "new tourism hot spot in China" of the 21st century. The Old Tusi City, the old capital of an 800-year Tusi dynasty, is called a "living fossil" for studying Tujia history and culture. The Liye Warring States ancient city site in Longshan and the more than 37,000 Qin bamboo slips unearthed there caused a sensation in archaeological and tourism circles and were called an "astonishing discovery." Therefore, in April 2001, when Premier Zhu Rongji of the State Council inspected the Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture, he clearly pointed out: "Developing tourism is Xiangxi's greatest avenue in the future."
Second, complete categories. According to the national classification and survey of tourism resources, the Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture has 8 main categories of tourism resources: geological and geomorphological landscapes, water scenery, biological landscapes, astronomical and climatic landscapes, sites and relics, buildings and facilities, tourism commodities, and cultural activities, accounting for 100% of the nation's 8 main categories of tourism resources; the prefecture has 25 subcategories of tourism resources, including comprehensive natural tourism sites, sedimentation and structures, traces of geological and geomorphological processes, river sections, natural lakes and ponds, waterfalls, springs, trees, flower fields, wildlife habitats, light phenomena, weather and climate phenomena, sites and relics of socioeconomic and cultural activities, comprehensive cultural tourism sites, individual activity venues, landscape architecture and affiliated buildings, residential places and communities, burial sites, transportation buildings, water conservancy buildings, local tourism commodities, personnel records, art, folk customs, and modern festivals, accounting for 80.6% of the nation's 31 subcategories of tourism resources; the prefecture has 116 basic types of tourism resources, accounting for 74.8% of the nation's 155 basic types.
Third, large in number and wide in distribution. According to the national evaluation standards for tourism resources, combined with the development potential, developability, accessibility, and economic benefits to be created by tourism resources, using a method combining qualitative and quantitative approaches, not according to the main categories of tourism resources,
subcategories, and basic types, but rather merging resources of the same level, after appraisal by provincial and prefectural tourism business departments, the grading results of the main tourism resources of the Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture are as follows:
Seven fifth-level tourism resources: Tujia and Miao customs, Fenghuang Ancient City, the Southern Great Wall, Huangsiqiao Ancient City in Fenghuang, Dehang Miao Cultural Village in Jishou, Mengdong River rafting, and the Liye Warring States ancient city site in Longshan.
17 fourth-grade tourism resources: Fenghuang Tuojiang River, Qiliang Cave, Xiong Xiling's Former Residence, Xiangquan Wine Culture Park, Guzhang Zuolongxi Grand Canyon, Qifeng Lake Scenic Area, Yongshun Laosicheng Scenic Area, Bu'ermen Forest Park, Wangcun Ancient Town, Xiaoxi Primitive Secondary Forest Ecological Tourism Area, Huayuan Gumiao River Scenic Area, Paibi Scenic Area, Longshan Feihu Cave, Pidu River Scenic Area, Huoyan Karst Cave Group (Remi Cave, Shihua Cave, Nianyu Cave, Zhulian Cave, Feng Cave, Tongtian Gate, Tiankeng Drum, etc.), Luxi Panhu Culture, and Shili Huabi (Ten-Mile Painted Cliff).
17 third-grade tourism resources: Fenghuang Shen Congwen's Former Residence, Hong Bridge, Nanhuashan Forest Park, Tingtaoshan Park, Jishou Qianzhou Ming-Qing Ancient Architecture Complex, Highway Wonder (Aizhai), Baxian Lake Scenic Area, Guzhang Red Stone Forest, Gaowangjie Scenic Area (Daxi, Xiaoxi, Heidongxi, Jinlongxi, etc.), Yongshun Mengdong River Pinghu Cruise, Hailuo Scenic Area, Xizhou Bronze Pillar, Huayuan Biancheng Chadong Scenic Area, Baojing Youshui Hanging Coffins, Wanmipo Power Station, Longshan Wulongshan Grand Canyon, Luxi Xinnü Rock.
There are also 31 second-grade tourism resources and 61 first-grade tourism resources, distributed throughout the prefecture. In addition, there are many ungraded tourism resources.
Fourth, the ethnic customs and traditions are rich and distinctive. (See Chapter 1, Section 3, "Population and Ethnic Groups" and Chapter 11, Section 3, "Culture and Arts" of this book.) The customs and traditions of the Tujia and Miao peoples, as cultural phenomena, have been inherited and brought to life thanks to their grafting and marriage with the tourism industry. Tourism has thus gained greatly in ethnic character, and the customs and traditions have unquestionably become a highly precious tourism resource.