English and French Guidebooks Boost International Tourism Along China’s Yellow River

To promote international tourism along the Yellow River, China’s renowned “Mother River,” English and French guidebooks showcasing popular attractions were launched on Tuesday in Yuncheng, located in North China’s Shanxi Province. The event is part of the 2023 Yellow River Tourism Overseas Promotion Season that aims to illustrate the cultural richness and history of the Yellow River, the cradle of Chinese civilization.

The kickoff ceremony saw the release of English and French guidebooks comprising nine specially chosen tourism routes. The Deputy Director-General from the Department of Resource Development at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Zhang Ruirui, clarified that these nine routes were meticulously selected from a total of 40 tour routes along the Yellow River. The guidebooks meticulously detail the unique features of the Yellow River cities, their notable landscapes, and cater to the diverse needs of international tourists, showcasing a vibrant and multifaceted image of China.

The Yellow River, the second longest river in China, is one of the birthplaces of Chinese civilization and traverses nine provinces in northern China. The selected tour routes capture a wide variety of scenes, from the desert vistas of the Silk Road in the Hexi Corridor to Confucius’ hometown in Shandong Province, Eastern China. These routes offer tourists a glimpse of the diverse specialties each province boasts.

Furthermore, the guidebooks also highlight five additional routes that take visitors on a deep dive into the heart of villages nestled along the Yellow River.

Erwin F. Balane, a Tourism Counselor from the Embassy of the Philippines in China, emphasized the importance of in-person travel to truly understand the culture and spirit of a place.

More promotional activities will be undertaken in countries like the US, Brazil, and South Korea throughout the promotional season, which lasts until the end of September. Network of International Culturalink Entities’ Deputy Director, Wan Ting, further noted that this initiative is expected to facilitate cultural exchanges and help reduce prejudices, according to Wu Chengzhong, a culture and tourism professor from the University of International Business and Economics.

The guidebooks were unveiled at an event held at Guanque Tower, a historic building from the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), located adjacent to the upper reaches of the Yellow River. This endeavor of enhancing tourism and ecological protection along the Yellow River also aligns with China’s 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), promoting a balanced approach to cultural heritage, tourism, and ecological conservation.

READ MORE:

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• Over 150 Paleolithic Sites Discovered Along Yellow River Branch, Tracing Human History in China Back 600,000 Years
• Nature’s Comeback: How Dongying City is Restoring the Yellow River Delta’s Ecology.