China News Service, Chenzhou, September 10 (Lu Yi, Zhang Xueying) In Zixing, Hunan, a cultural tourism practice that does not rely on land increment is quietly taking place by the Dongjiang Lake. Faced with the dual constraints of ecological red lines and land for construction, Zixing City abandoned the traditional path of "big demolition and big construction" and instead adopted the method of "micro-renovation and fine upgrading" to revitalize a number of abandoned industrial relics and idle public spaces.
Dongjiang Lake is the core coordinate of Zixing Cultural Tourism. It was formed in the 1980s due to the construction of Dongjiang Hydropower Station, a national key project. The lake area is 160 square kilometers. The water quality here maintains the national first-class drinking water standard all year round, and the "fog-filled Xiaodongjiang River" filled with morning fog is a classic landscape famous at home and abroad. Relying on the clear water of this lake, Zixing is committed to polishing the city's business card of "Oriental Water City, Poetry and Painting Zixing" and integrating the poetry of landscapes into the urban texture. It is on this background that an exploration of the activation of stock space quietly begins.
From September 9th to 10th, representatives of Chinese media participating in the "2026 Overseas Chinese Media Tour to Chenzhou" went to Zixing to visit these "small but beautiful" cultural and tourism spaces and experience how "micro-reform and refinement" can revitalize idle assets.
Winding along the Dongjiang Lake Ring Road, a lakeshore hillside decorated with a sea of colorful flowers and lined with open jeeps attracted the attention of Huang Guilan, a reporter from Macau's "Xinhua Macau News". This is not a newly opened scenic spot, but a Bailangpo travel photography base that "grows" out of idle slopes. Under the constraints of not adding an inch of construction land and not breaking through the ecological blue line, the operator made this 40-acre lakeshore "alive" in the camera with a small investment.
Although she has seen many cases of renovation of old buildings, Huang Guilan still feels fresh about such a lightweight renovation that requires almost no soil. "Revitalizing a small space and re-giving it a soul is more of a test of creativity than massive demolition and construction. You need to understand the land first and know what it is suitable for, rather than just adding things on it." In her opinion, this lightweight renovation idea may open a new window for places restricted by ecological red lines.
"Tourists take jeeps to experience the beauty of the mountains and rivers, and professional photographers follow the photos, allowing tourists to change from "watching the scenery" to "participating in the scenery."" Du Hailong, the person in charge of the base, said that the base also provides themed micro-film shooting, which is especially popular with group tourists. Since its operation in November 2025, it has attracted about 20,000 tourists from all over the country and even South Korea, Russia and other places, with a maximum reception of about 500 people in a single day. With the help of tourists’ social networks, Dongjiang Lake in the lens is moving towards a wider world.
This experiment of "using small things to make big things happen" is not an isolated case. The local government adheres to the logic of "minor reforms and refined improvements" and does not engage in major demolition or construction. Instead, it revitalizes existing space and implants cultural and tourism functions to revitalize a number of idle assets.
Along the newly built walking plank road on Dousita Island, you can see the geological wonders of the Dousita Lingyan Cave and the aroma of fruit tea. When tourists come out of the cave, they can pick tea and fruits, overlooking the lake view amidst the aroma of tea and fruits, and naturally extend their stay. This superposition of "geology + agricultural tourism" transforms a single scenic spot into a diverse experience space where "you can go to the island to pick tea, take a stroll, and enjoy the scenery."
The sight turns to both sides of the Xiaodong River. The old private houses and warehouses on the east bank have been transformed into leisure stations and coffee houses; the idle 460 square meters of management buildings on the west bank have been transformed into Jianghu teahouses, adding new consumption scenarios such as travel photo check-in and leisure tea drinking. The spaces on both sides of the strait are beaded into chains, guiding visitors to slow down and immerse themselves in the tranquil landscape.
Traveling to Dongjiang Bay, the old park was transformed into the "Wande Le" water park, with a social investment of 80 million yuan, creating an immersive consumption scene suitable for all ages and all time periods. Five abandoned pump houses were transformed into "Yixi·Music Floating Island". The architectural skeleton was completely preserved, and the interior was reconstructed into a music theater, panoramic cafe and artist workshop. The old pump house not only retains the memory gene of the industrial city, but also injects the vitality of contemporary cultural tourism.
From Bailangpo to Dongjiangwan, Zixing’s practice has confirmed a truth: Upgrading cultural tourism does not necessarily require “changing the world”. On the premise of not adding an inch of land, this "lightweight" path is showing its feasibility by asking for space from existing stock, seeking increment from culture, and seeking benefits from experience.
Data is most convincing. According to statistics, during the trial operation period of the "Widele" water park, it received 156,000 tourists and generated revenue of 1.1526 million yuan. As abandoned and idle spaces are awakened one by one, this "minor modification" experiment on the shores of Dongjiang Lake may provide a replicable solution for tourism development in ecologically sensitive areas.
