Henan tourism highlights attract Shenzhen residents

Some Tai Chi performers showcase their skills at the event. Courtesy of the Culture and Tourism Department of Henan Province

A tourism promotion event sponsored by the Culture and Tourism Department of Henan Province was held in Shenzhen on Dec. 25, aiming to attract more local residents to Henan, strengthen investment cooperation with high-quality enterprises, expand cultural and tourism exchanges between Henan and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and promote mutual tourism exchange between the two regions.

During the event, five tourism routes tailored for Guangdong tourists were unveiled, including a winter tour to enjoy the fun of ice and snow, a Spring Festival folk parade tour, a historical site exploration tour, a specialty tasting tour, and an ancient capital fashion experience tour. Tourists are invited to explore Henan’s rich cultural charm and vitality that spans thousands of years through these five unique routes.

Residents explore cultural and creative products from various cities in Henan Province. 

In the creative tourism promotion session, representatives from various cities in Henan showcased immersive performances for the audience, including Kung Fu from the Shaolin Temple, oracle bone script demonstrations, Tai Chi, and Luogushu, a Shanzhou-style ballad storytelling performance.

An exhibition area was also set up at the venue, where various cities in Henan showcased their unique cultural and creative products. At the Kaifeng City exhibition booth, a performance of Song Dynasty Whisked Tea captivated many attendees.

“This is truly amazing! I have only seen the Song Dynasty Whisked Tea on TV before. I didn’t expect to experience it in person today. It feels like I have traveled back to the Song Dynasty,” exclaimed Shenzhen resident Ms. Zheng.

Another highlight of the event was the introduction of an annual tourism pass for Luoyang City, which is now available to residents of 11 cities in the GBA, including Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Dongguan. The annual pass includes access to 58 scenic spots, featuring seven 5A-rated scenic spots and 23 4A-rated scenic spots, with a total ticket value of 3,112 yuan (US$426.30). Residents of the GBA can purchase the annual pass for just 90 yuan, the same price as Luoyang residents, allowing unlimited travel to the 58 scenic spots for a year.