The Launch Ceremony of “Travel Guangxi by High-Speed Rail” was held in Guangzhou on November 23, 2015. Leaders and guests including Cheng Daxing, Director of the Market Department of the Guangxi Autonomous Region Tourism Development Commission, Luo Hong, Deputy Director of Southern TV, and renowned producer Zhou Li attended the ceremony and delivered speeches.
At the launch ceremony, witnessed by many media representatives, the top ten travel routes selected from the “Travel Guangxi by High-Speed Rail” Route Design Competition were announced. Awards were presented to the designers of the top ten routes, and the flag was handed over to the experience group by leaders of the Guangxi Autonomous Region Tourism Development Commission. As the slogan “Slow Travel in Guangxi, Enjoy Life at a Leisurely Pace” echoed through the venue, the experience group officially set off for Guangxi.
Cheng Daxing, Director of the Market Department of the Guangxi Autonomous Region Tourism Development Commission, introduces Guangxi tourism
Luo Hong, Deputy Director of Southern TV, delivers a speech
Award-winning route designers depart for Guangxi
Top Ten Travel Routes of “Travel Guangxi by High-Speed Rail”
In September 2015, the Guangxi Autonomous Region Tourism Development Commission, in collaboration with Southern TV, launched the “Travel Guangxi by High-Speed Rail” Route Design Competition. With the theme “Slow Travel in Guangxi, Enjoy Life at a Leisurely Pace,” the competition invited public submissions and received over 120 entries, with nearly 8.3 million people participating in the discussions. Based on the quality of the routes and their online influence, the organizers selected the top ten travel routes of “Travel Guangxi by High-Speed Rail.”
These include “If You Love Me, Take Me to Guangxi to See the Sea,” “You Grew Up with Me, I’ll Travel Guangxi with You,” “Let Kids Grow Through Travel,” “Let Youth Bloom Across Guangxi,” “Unwind Yourself in Guangxi,” “Venture into the Heart of Guangxi, Chasing that Stunning Light and Shadow,” “Gather in Guangxi, Recalling the Days of Our Youth,” “Forget Time and Indulge in a Feast for the Soul in Guangxi,” “Travel Guangxi Following Film and TV Dramas,” and “Marco Polo in Guangxi.”
These ten routes cater to ten different types of travelers—couples, parents, families with children, schoolmates, white-collar workers, photography enthusiasts, friends, movie fans, those seeking solace, and international visitors. The ten routes cover the most popular natural and cultural attractions among tourists from Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau, highlighting Guangxi’s strengths as an ecotourism and leisure destination.
“Slow Travel” Has Become a Trend
In recent years, slow tourism and the slow life movement have quietly emerged in China, especially becoming a trend in the fast-paced regions of Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau. “Slow” does not mean lax or sluggish—it refers to a natural, unhurried, and poetic way of traveling. “Slow Travel” is a style of tourism that makes journeys more meaningful and profound.
Guangxi Is Truly an Ideal Destination for “Slow Travel”
Guangxi, the beautiful land of the Zhuang people, boasts unique karst landscapes, splendid cultural relics, and rich ethnic customs. These elements combine to create picturesque scenes of mountains embracing waters and waters reflecting mountains, captivating the eyes of travelers from home and abroad. The world-renowned Guilin landscape, the age-old mystery of the Huashan Cliff Paintings, the breathtaking beauty of Longji Rice Terraces hanging from the sky, the heavenly sounds of the Longzhou Tianqin, the architectural marvel of Zhenwu Pavilion, and the filming location of “The Journey of Flower”—Detian Waterfall—all offer poetic views that are truly breathtaking and highly desirable. With its diverse population of 11 ethnic minorities, Guangxi is undoubtedly an ideal place for “slow travel.”
High-Speed Rail Travel in Guangxi Enters a Golden Era
The full operation of high-speed rail marks the arrival of a golden era for tourism development in Guangxi. Blessed with a prime geographic location adjacent to Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau, the opening of the Nanning–Guangzhou High-Speed Rail, Guiyang–Guangzhou High-Speed Rail, Xiang–Gui High-Speed Rail, and the Guangxi Coastal High-Speed Rail has significantly shortened the time and space distance between Guangxi and the Pearl River Delta region as well as cities along the high-speed rail lines. The advantages of high-speed rail—safety, speed, comfort—have made it the preferred mode of transportation for travelers. Improved transportation convenience has not only changed travel speeds but has also deeply transformed the era of “whirlwind tours” into one of “fast travel and slow exploration.” Taking the high-speed rail undoubtedly provides tremendous convenience for Guangxi’s “slow travel and slow life” concept.
“Travel Guangxi by High-Speed Rail” Experience Group Heads Out Promptly, Fast and Joyful
Ten winners formed the “Travel Guangxi by High-Speed Rail” experience group. After receiving the flag at the launch ceremony, they geared up and set off with the crew of Southern TV’s “Trendy Holidays,” boarding the Nanning–Guangzhou High-Speed Rail to begin their “Slow Travel in Guangxi, Enjoy Life at a Leisurely Pace” journey and experience the unique charm of this beautiful Zhuang region firsthand. It is reported that the experience itinerary also focuses on Guangxi’s leisure tourism elements, incorporating highlights from the ten award-winning routes.
The “Trendy Holidays” team of Southern TV will provide full coverage, documenting the entire journey of the ten winners in a reality show format, showcasing the excitement of “slow travel and slow life” in Guangxi.