Looking back at the 2025 calendar of the Jianghuai region, from the continued legacy of traditional culture to the innovative expression of contemporary arts, and from the sizzling growth of cultural tourism to the nurturing influence of civilized practices, the uniquely charming cultural essence of Anhui has surged forward through history and flourished in the fertile soil of our times. 

By building on the past while forging ahead, and by leveraging local resources in line with local conditions, Anhui Province is embracing the new cultural mission. It is fully unleashing the vitality of cultural innovation and creativity, striving to create a new culture that belongs to our era. Empowered by culture, the external image and inner character of the people of Jianghuai are rapidly transforming.

Our province adheres to a dual focus on both achieving creative outcomes and nurturing talent, while integrating the development of works with the cultivation of a conducive environment. By deeply exploring the cultural essence and contemporary value of Huizhou culture, Yangtze River culture, Huaihe River culture, the Grand Canal culture, and Huangmei opera, we are committed to creating more cultural masterpieces that embody the distinctive charm of Anhui and showcase its new image.

Empowered by technology, the cultural industry is undergoing an intelligent transformation. At the Ziyunshan (Baohe) Cultural and Creative Industrial Park, a large number of leading cultural technology enterprises, such as the Huibo Cultural Relics Restoration Institute, have gathered. 

In March last year, the Ziyunshan Cultural and Creative Park was officially inaugurated. Anchored in the goal of becoming a nationally top-tier hub and venturing into the blue ocean of a trillion-yuan industry, it has laid out a high-standard, high-quality "construction blueprint."

Driven by the momentum of the Ziyunshan Cultural and Creative Park, projects such as the Wuhu Shenshan Cultural Technology Industrial Park, Huangshan Film and Television (Online Short Drama) Industrial Park, Suzhou Live E-commerce Digital Cultural Industrial Park, Chizhou Laochikou Cultural and Creative Industrial Port, and Huaibei Old Power Plant Cultural and Creative Park have been successively established. Across the province, more "vertical" development zones, "mid-air" industrial parks, and large-scale projects nestled within office buildings are taking shape.

This winter, the streets and alleys of Guangde City are bustling with vehicles bearing license plates from Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang. The "Guangde Three Specialties"—a steaming hot pot, warm milk tea, and walnut crisp—have taken the internet by storm, turning this small southern Anhui city into a new favorite destination for countless tourists and adding a fresh, aromatic hotspot to Anhui's cultural tourism map.

Anhui, a treasure trove of beauty, is as picturesque as a work of art. Our province is committed to promoting the deep integration of culture and tourism, developing all-for-one tourism, and building cultural tourism into a pillar industry. Guided by the overarching plan of "one zone, three circles, and four belts," Anhui is fostering a new pattern of all-for-one tourism development characterized by interconnected sectors, regional synergy, and diverse formats, striving to build a national pilot zone for all-for-one tourism development.

Emerging immersive formats such as the metaverse, low-altitude flights, and digital light shows are thriving, while new lifestyle aesthetics like family-friendly farms, themed cafes, and forest therapy are gaining strong momentum. Innovative groups contributing to cultural tourism, such as community curators, homestay managers, and digital nomads, continue to grow. A range of projects, including scenic routes, study tours, and industrial tourism, have gained popularity online and set new trends. Whether it's "cultural tourism plus all industries" or "all industries plus cultural tourism," the sizzling enthusiasm for cultural tourism consumption is building momentum and injecting energy into high-quality economic development. From Huaibei to the Jiangnan region, a vibrant panorama is unfolding, featuring distinctive local charm along key points, breathtaking views across routes, picturesque scenes on a broader scale, and cultural richness throughout the entire journey.

Source: Anhui Daily