May 19 China Tourism Day | A Series of 1+15+81+N Cultural & Tourism Benefit Events to Enrich Life

       May 19 China Tourism Day | The "1+15+81+N" Cultural & Tourism Benefit Series to Enrich Life

       The 2019 Beijing Sub-venue Event of China Tourism Day, jointly organized by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism and the People's Government of Tongzhou District, will be held on May 19 in Tongzhou District, Beijing. This year’s theme for China Tourism Day is "Cultural-Tourism Integration for a Better Life," advocating continuous integration of culture and tourism, continuously improving service quality, and making cultural tourism a new driving force for a better life.

The Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism has launched a series of "1+15+81+N" benefit and convenience initiatives for China Tourism Day. Here, "1" refers to the Beijing sub-venue set up in Tongzhou District, "15" refers to the other 15 district sub-venues across Beijing, "81" refers to the 73 Beijing 4A-level and 8 5A-level scenic spots holding special "May 19 China Tourism Day" events—enhancing tourism products and services to offer visitors a better experience; and "N" refers to diverse cultural tourism activities and benefit measures introduced by various scenic spots, characterized mainly by the following aspects: First is the emphasis on cultural-tourism integration. For example: Xicheng District’s collaboration with the National Centre for the Performing Arts for tourism benefit activities; Haidian District’s Summer Palace Ruins Park offering free admission on Cultural Heritage Day (the second Saturday of June each year); Fengtai District Library distributing free reading cards for the May 19 cultural benefit event; Pinggu District’s Juyongguan Grand Canyon and Yuzishan Anti-Japanese War Memorial Hall opening free of charge, among others. Second is discounted or free entry to scenic spots. For instance: Beijing Purple Sandalwood Museum in Chaoyang District offers free entry on China Tourism Day; Beijing Auto Museum in Fengtai District provides free access to all citizens and tourists, who can enter via on-site ticket collection or online reservation, among others. Third is service activities targeting specific groups. For example: Scenic spots in Dongcheng, Chaoyang, Haidian, Fengtai, Tongzhou, Daxing, Shunyi, and Pinggu Districts offer discounted or free admission for model workers, advanced individuals, military personnel or armed police, as well as seniors, minors, and people with disabilities. Fourth is the promotion of family and parent-child travel. For instance: Happy Valley in Chaoyang District, Beijing Wildlife Park in Daxing District, Lido Fantasy Park in Changping District, and Yuyang International Ski Resort in Pinggu District provide ticket discounts for visitors bringing family or friends, encouraging family and parent-child outings. Specific arrangements can be found in the "Beijing May 19 China Tourism Day Benefit Policy Summary."

It is understood that in addition to the 81 Beijing 4A-level and above scenic spots setting up promotional display venues for China Tourism Day, the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism will hold an opening ceremony and thematic event at the Han Meilin Art Museum in Beijing on China Tourism Day, advocating affordable and civilized tourism. The initiative aims to promote deeper integration of culture and tourism in terms of philosophy, functions, industry, market, and international exchange. Through "culture going out" and "tourism coming in," it seeks to tell Beijing’s stories, spread Beijing’s voice, showcase Beijing’s image, and continuously enhance the soft power of the capital’s culture and the international influence of its tourism.

Additionally, officials from the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism remind the public that May 19 this year falls on a weekend, and some scenic spots may experience high visitor volumes. Residents and tourists are advised to plan ahead and arrange their itineraries accordingly.

Specific benefit measures can be found in the "Beijing May 19 China Tourism Day Benefit Policy Summary."