Zunyi Transportation & Tourism Investment Group, in collaboration with Mafengwo, uncovers new "wild" vitality in the Chishui River Valley

Recently, Zunyi Transportation & Tourism Investment Group teamed up with Mafengwo, the global travel consumption guide, to create a series of Chishui River Valley marketing events centered on the theme of "wildness," reigniting the passion for Guizhou tourism. The three major-themed "Wild Open Classes"—outdoor, family, and wedding—became instant hits among young travelers in first- and second-tier cities. The "Ambition Calls" Chishui River Valley Music Festival, held from November 3 to 5, further captured the attention of trendsetters and cool hunters.

"People's impressions of Guizhou tourism generally focus on natural scenery and cultural features, while their perception of Zunyi often stops at keywords like red tourism. In reality, Zunyi’s more diverse tourism resources remain underappreciated by travelers," said Ruan Juan, head of Mafengwo’s "Wild Open Classes." Set against the backdrop of the Chishui River Valley Travel Highway and its surrounding scenic spots, the "Wild Open Classes" aim to showcase the unique charm of this emerging hot tourism destination in northern Guizhou through three themes that currently captivate Chinese travelers—inviting corporate professionals, families, and romantic couples to explore the Chishui River Valley.

Building on the open classes, the event also brought in professional suppliers from various fields to seamlessly integrate with corresponding travel products, combining online and offline efforts as well as promotion and product offerings. It was revealed that the three themed open classes would be co-created with professional online travel service providers such as Youxiake, Buyilehu Field School, and renowned photography agency Zhixin Overseas Photography.

It is reported that well-known travel influencers, including globetrotter Gu Yue, were among the first to experience the open classes, with related themed travel notes accumulating over 300,000 views. The "Wild Open Classes" allowed travelers to discover another side of the Chishui River Valley. Travel influencer Sophie wrote in her Mafengwo travel note: "Aside from knowing the Red Army’s story of the ‘Four Crossings of the Chishui River,’ my understanding of Chishui in Guizhou was limited to its literal meaning. It turns out this place hides so many lesser-known secrets, waiting for us to uncover them with our children."

On the 27th, three themed promotional videos went viral on social media as friend circle ads. According to a relevant official, the videos garnered over 10 million views on the day of release, marking the largest social media exposure for Zunyi tourism in Guizhou in recent years.

Among them, the outdoor adventure-themed route, led by Gu Yue, passes through iconic spots such as Lion Rock, Tucheng Ancient Town, Meijiu River, Maotai Town, and Tuolu Rope Climbing Base. It includes challenging activities like cycling, rafting, forest camping, and waterfall climbing, weaving through deep canyons and majestic waterfalls, exuding raw wilderness charm. Gu Yue remarked, "Many say freedom is hard to find, but I believe it’s an instinct in everyone—the simpler, the more powerful. This Chishui River Valley feels a lot like my own wildness and freedom."

The family-themed promotional video stars the Zou family—Zou Mingxuan, Zou Minghao, and their mother Ran Yingying—who rose to fame in Season 3 of *Dad, Where Are We Going?*. They traveled through Four Caves Gully, Bing’an Ancient Town, Chishui Grand Waterfall, Linzhou Post Station, and Alsophila Natural Reserve, experiencing the natural ecology of pristine forests, traditional handicrafts in ancient towns, and valley cycling, collectively showcasing a delightful family adventure in the countryside.

From November 3 to 5, alongside large-scale online exposure, an offline Chishui River Valley Music Festival will grandly kick off. Renowned independent pop and rock artists such as Cui Jian, Zuoxiao Zuzhou, Pu Shu, Xie Tianxiao, and Gaohu from Tongyi will all make appearances. The three music stages—"Ambition Citadel," "Chishui Fortress," and "Secret Forest"—are spaced dozens of kilometers apart along the 160-kilometer Chishui River Valley Travel Highway. The fusion of star cycling, celebrity sharing, bold independent music, and serene natural forests will make enjoying music while taking in the scenic views the standout highlight of the festival.

Guizhou has recently made frequent moves in exploring new tourism development models, significantly increasing investment and innovation. Take the country’s first river valley travel highway—the Chishui River Valley Travel Highway—as an example, which showcases a classic model of "highway + ecotourism" development.

This travel highway starts in Maotai Town, Renhuai City, passes through Tucheng Town, Xishui County, and ends in Chishui City. It spans 160 kilometers of mountain bike paths paved with red asphalt and 154 kilometers of car lanes with black asphalt, connecting the rich tourism resources along the Chishui River Valley. It is also the country’s first comprehensive fast-slow traffic tourism corridor with complete services, featuring 12 rest stations, 26 campsites, 23 viewpoints, and resting areas along the way. It serves multiple functions—transportation, ecology, cultural dissemination, tourism, and consumption—greatly enhancing comprehensive tourism service capabilities.

The "Wild Open Classes" project in the Chishui River Valley leverages Mafengwo’s high-quality guides, travel notes, and platform advantages to exponentially amplify the visibility of Guizhou’s tourism resources, significantly boosting recognition and reputation among young travelers and reshaping the destination’s brand image centered on "wildness." According to the official, related free independent travel (FIT) products from the "Wild Open Classes" will also be launched on Mafengwo’s FIT marketplace during suitable seasons, allowing consumers to experience "influencer-style" and "celebrity-style" Chishui River Valley-themed travel.