Shanxi injects new energy into red tourism

Shanxi province recently released 10 high-quality themed red tourism routes to promote the great revolutionary spirit and inject new energy into the integrated development of red tourism in old revolutionary base areas.

On Saturday, the 13th Eighth Route Army Cultural Tourism Festival was launched in Wuxiang county of Changzhi city, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

The event introduced classic red tourism routes covering themes such as the history of the war, the construction of revolutionary base areas, and the footprints of great figures.

Shanxi, as one of the main battlefields of the war, is famous for the Pingxingguan Victory in 1937 and the Hundred Regiments Offensive in 1940.

"Wuxiang is the headquarters of the Eighth Route Army and an old revolutionary base in the Taihang Mountains, a major breeding ground for the great Taihang spirit," said Wang Shuwen, Party secretary of the county. "We sincerely invite more visitors to experience the charm of revolutionary culture in the county."

Activities held during the three-day event in Wuxiang included exchanges on the high-quality development of red tourism, the release of classic red tourism routes, and immersive study tours along the heroic Taihang route, allowing visitors to gain a deeper understanding of Shanxi's revolutionary history.

"Improving visitor service experiences and technological innovation are key to enhancing the appeal of red tourism in promoting high-quality development," said Wu Ruoshan, deputy director of the Center for Tourism Policy Research at the China University of Labor Relations.

Ma Weifang, deputy director of the Political Work Department at the Academy of Military Science, expressed his unique feelings upon visiting the old revolutionary base areas of Wuxiang.

"I witnessed many people shedding tears at the scene and observed the great changes in the area," he said. "We need to seize opportunities to embrace the prosperity of red culture, promote the deep integration of revolutionary culture and the tourism industry, and achieve resonance between inheriting revolutionary genes and developing the tourism economy."

In recent years, Wuxiang has taken the favorable conditions of the national red tourism integration development pilot projects and the construction of national 5A-level scenic spots in the Eighth Route Army Cultural Tourism Area, forming a red-themed, diverse, symbiotic cultural tourism industry ecosystem.

"There are 843 revolutionary heritage sites in Changzhi, including the Taihang Memorial Hall of the Eighth Route Army and the Huangyadong Arsenal, the most in the province," said Chen Xiangyang, mayor of Changzhi. "We always regard deepening the integration of culture and tourism as an important focus and strongly support Wuxiang in building a nationally renowned red tourism destination."