Xi urges continuous efforts to conserve ecology of Yellow River

Chinese President Xi Jinping called for continuous efforts to promote ecological conservation of the Yellow River when inspecting a section of the river in northwest China's Gansu Province on Wednesday.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, inspected the city of Baoji in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and the cities of Tianshui and Lanzhou in Gansu Province from Tuesday to Friday.

On Wednesday afternoon, Xi visited the Yellow River section near the Zhongshan Bridge in Lanzhou, capital of Gansu, and was briefed on the efforts made by local authorities to promote ecological conservation in the Yellow River basin.

The Yellow River, China's second-longest river, is deemed the mother river of the Chinese nation, and Lanzhou is the only provincial capital city that the river runs through, Xi said.

Everyone should be grateful to the river, actively take part and fulfill their responsibilities in jointly protecting the Yellow River, so that the mother river can continue to benefit future generations, he said.

The Lanzhou section of the Yellow River stretches for over 150 kilometers and features 21 parks, 55 sculptures, 23 bridges, 12 docks, and 15 cross-river walkways. It spans an ecological greening area of 150,000 square meters, and has nearly 30 kilometers of fitness trails running along the riverside.

The Zhongshan Bridge is known as the "First Bridge of the Yellow River." Completed in 1909, it is the oldest bridge in Lanzhou and the first highway bridge built over the Yellow River.

The Zhongshan Bridge section is also a popular destination for residents and tourists seeking leisure and sightseeing. Visitors can stroll along the Yellow River while enjoying the scenery, take in a boat ride, or relax at one of the many riverside tea stalls while taking in the views.

Xi also visited an ecological park by the Weihe River, the largest tributary of the Yellow River, in Baoji City on Tuesday afternoon.

Xi urges continuous efforts to conserve ecology of Yellow River

Xi urges continuous efforts to conserve ecology of Yellow River

China has seen a notable rise in cultural tourism and inbound travel over Mid-Autumn Festival period, which shows increased interests in both cultural and natural sceneries.

The time-honored Mid-Autumn Festival has always featured family reunions since ancient times, summoning people's craving for traveling vast distances to be with their families and loved ones.

According to China Mobile's Wutong Big Data, the average distance traveled for family reunion was 253 kilometers during this year's holiday that ran from Sept 15 to 17. Short-distance trips of under 200 kilometers were most common, comprising 63 percent of the total, while 27 percent of travelers journeyed between 200 and 500 kilometers, and 10 percent traveled over 500 kilometers, indicating a strong preference for shorter, more manageable trips among holidaymakers.

In addition to family reunions, the popularity of traditional activities such as moon gazing and lantern shows continued to rise. Themed night tours featuring lantern displays attracted significant attention to notable spots such as the Beijing Garden Expo Park, Guangzhou Cultural Park, Luogang Park in Hefei, Songgai Ancient Town in Chongqing, and Meiyuan Hengshan Scenic Area in Wuxi.

The holiday also marked a rise in inbound tourism, with a 22 percent increase in international visitors compared with last year. Southeast Asia, Europe, and Africa are the regions with the largest climb in inbound tourists.

The provinces of Shanxi, Jiangxi, Inner Mongolia, Guizhou, and Hunan experienced the highest increases in international arrivals, with some even more than doubling the numbers of the previous year.

As China continues to expand its tourism appeal, the upward trends in travel and cultural engagement are set to continue into future holiday seasons.

China sees surge in tourism market during Mid-Autumn Festival