China News Service, Ningbo, October 6 (Linbo) "This is the first time in my life that I have come to this beautiful old city. I am really surprised." In the ancient town of Shipu Fishing Port in Xiangshan, Zhejiang, Natalia, a tourist from Poland, followed the tumbling Xiangshan fish lantern dance with her eyes filled with wonder.
During the National Day holiday, in this ancient coastal city, the Xiangshan Fish Lantern Dance and the Qi Jiajun Soldier Dance were staged in turn. A series of activities such as Chaoshan Ying Song and Dance, Chaowan Confrontation, and Fishing Shadows on the Corridor were staged one after another. Folk customs from different regions collided and blended on the bluestone road.
During the National Day holiday, the Xiangshan fish lantern dance was performed live. Photo by Lin Bo
"We have always been adhering to the presentation method of deeply exploring local culture, integrating Xiangshan's fishing culture, coastal defense culture and merchant culture into performances, food and activities." Wu Nini, deputy general manager of Shipu Fishing Port Ancient City Tourism Development Co., Ltd., said that during the holidays, the local government also joined hands with Chaoshan area to launch multiple immersive experience activities.
During this National Day holiday, there are many tourists like Natalia who have given their vacation to a county or a bay. As many tourists shift from long-distance "check-in" to short-distance travel around the country, county-level "micro vacations" are becoming a new choice for tourists at home and abroad with an increasingly diversified product supply.
On September 22, China's first cross-sea urban (suburban) railway - Ningbo to Xiangshan urban (suburban) railway was officially opened for operation, thus ending the history of Xiangshan Peninsula without rail transportation.
The access to rail transit makes "going to Xiangshan to see the sea" within reach. During the holidays, trains carry tourists from all over the world into the peninsula. The flow of people in the ancient fishing port city has increased significantly compared with previous years. The ancient charm, sea breeze and fishing lanterns of the old city have become the most vivid scenery in the eyes of tourists in "Ben County".
In Ninghai County next door, another kind of "micro vacation" is unfolding on the sea. Recently, the Xiashan Pier in Qiangjiao Town, Ninghai County has been crowded with people. Leisure fishing boats set sail one after another with their whistles honking, shuttling between the blue bays and green islands. The sea breeze blows, colorful flags are fluttering, and the sea and sky are picturesque. Many parent-child families carried small buckets and shovels to the Hengshan Island scenic spot to immerse themselves in the fishermen's fun of collecting shellfish and catching the sea.
"I took my children from Shanghai to visit during the long vacation. There are mountains and seas here, and the scenery is particularly beautiful." Tourist Li Zhipeng said that he planned to stay in a B&B on the island at night so that he could watch the sunrise the next morning. “The whole family had a great time.”
During the National Day holiday, tourists taste seafood delicacies in Ninghai, Zhejiang. Photo by Wu Ligao
"In the past, when going to sea, the most important thing was the harvest; now, when going to sea, the most important thing is service and tourist experience." Hu Guoping, the "boat boss" of Ninghai County, said with a smile that orders for the National Day holiday were filled half a month ago. Most of the tourists came from Shanghai, Hangzhou, Taizhou and other places. It is expected that the entire holiday will increase income by 20,000 to 30,000 yuan.
In the local area, more and more villagers like him are switching from traditional fishing to recreational fishing boat operations. The marine experience passed down from generation to generation is being transformed into special services for coastal tourism.
Looking at Zhejiang, the "micro-vacation" methods in counties are far more than this. From mountain B&Bs in Mogan Mountain in Deqing, to rural camping in Anji, to lakeside roaming on Qiandao Lake, counties one after another use "local culture" as the fulcrum to offer differentiated holiday products, allowing tourists to have a fresh experience "at their doorstep".
"When counties encounter globalization, what they need is not to copy the big city model, but to find their own 'spiritual geographical coordinates.'" Yi Kaigang, director of the Institute of Culture and Tourism Innovation and Development of Zhejiang Gongshang University, said in an interview that county tourism is not a smaller version of urban cultural tourism, but a magnifying glass for cultural China.
He believes that the development of county cultural tourism must establish an overall thinking, break through administrative barriers, and build a "regional coordinated development community"; build county cultural tourism IP based on regional cultural genes; improve public service capabilities and have the strength to catch the "flooding traffic".
One end is connected to the countryside and human feelings, and the other end is connected to consumption and new experiences. During this National Day holiday, "Ben County" is becoming a new choice for more and more people. (over)
