The Nine Lions Playing with Lotus Sculpture

　　The Nine Lions Playing with Lotus Sculpture

　　In recent years, the Qianxi County Party Committee and government have pursued pragmatic development strategies, proposing the "Four Major Strategies" to drive the county's economic growth. The Nine Lions Playing with Lotus Sculpture is a key component of implementing the strategies of "Urban Development Leading the County" and "Tourism Revitalizing the County." Why was this sculpture built? As one famous philosopher put it: "A nation that loses its own culture is a nation adrift without roots." A person’s life lies in their spirit, a region’s development lies in its culture. Every nation and place should have its own culture. For individuals, it’s called growth; for regions, it’s called development. It is precisely this culture that serves as the inexhaustible source supporting such progress. According to the *Qianxi County Annals*, there is a local legend about the "Nine Lions Playing with Lotus." When it comes to lions, the people here have admired and revered them for generations. They embody human kindness and have become auspicious symbols in people’s hearts. The city has long been referred to as both the "Lion City" and the "Lotus City," making the construction of the Nine Lions Playing with Lotus Sculpture a long-held aspiration. Building this sculpture also aligns with the goal of "Tourism Revitalizing the County" and supports the important measure of "Urban Development Leading the County."

　　Speaking of tourism, it is an emerging economic industry encompassing multiple functions—economic, social, environmental, and cultural—with rich cultural significance. For tourists, traveling is primarily about experiencing different cultures, a form of cultural lifestyle consumption. For tourists, tourism resources mainly consist of culturally meaningful elements that satisfy their psychological needs. Thus, the role of culture in tourism is of utmost importance.

　　Qianxi boasts abundant tourism resources that are relatively concentrated across its geographical space, distributed in the east, south, west, and north. The eastern region features the Liuguang River Gorge, Suofengying Gorge, Shaba Lake, and Jiulong Mountain’s Elephant Shrine. The southern and southwestern areas include Da Hai Zi, the Tomb of Li Shijie, Dongfeng Lake, and Daqingpo Forest Farm. The western part is home to Zhiga Alu Lake, Shajing Guanyin Cave, and the Kejia Haizi Cluster. The northern and northwestern regions center around the Hundred Miles Azalea Scenic Area.

　　According to reports, under the leadership of the county Party Committee and government, the people of Qianxi are pursuing pragmatic development and working together toward takeoff. They have formulated the *Qianxi County Tourism Development Master Plan* and detailed plans for Shuixi Park, the Tomb of Li Shijie, and the Kejia Haizi Cluster. A tourism resource project database has been established, and a number of tourism investment projects have been launched, including Huawu Miao Village and the Kejia Haizi Freshwater Lake Cluster. Efforts are focused on creating the premium tourism route of the "Wujiang Source Hundred Miles Gallery (Dongfeng Lake – Huawu Miao Village – Zhijindong Cave)."

　　Today, the completion of a cultural landmark is just the beginning, a first step. It is the realization of a work rich in meaning and deeply rooted in national sentiment. It is a symbol, an inspiration, an encouragement, a unifying force...

　　"The Nine Lions Playing with Lotus Celebrate Prosperity, Azaleas Bloom in New Splendor. Revitalize the Vast Land of Qianxi, Forge Ahead with the Path of Tourism-Led Growth. With Visionary Planning and Bold Strokes, History Will Surely Prove Its Worth!"