On February 10, 2015, the opening ceremony of the Thousand-Year Ancient Town Tourism Area in Caotang, Weng’an County, Qiannan Prefecture, was held at the Wengshui Changge Square in the ancient town area of Caotang, Houchang Town. The opening event included Sichuan opera face-changing, lantern operas, dragon and lion dances, performance art, a public lantern riddle guessing contest, and cultural performances. As a key 4A-level scenic spot in Weng’an County and one of the “Top Ten Cultural Tourism Brands of Guizhou Province” and one of Guizhou Tourism’s “Five Business Cards,” the opening of this tourism area has drawn continuous media coverage. The “Carrying Caotang, Timing Weng’an” series of creative theme events and the world’s most audacious rental scheme have further sparked active participation and strong interest among tourists and investors. The opening festivities will run from February 10 to March 5.
Get Empress Wu’s Red Packets in Caotang
“Empress Wu is giving out red packets in Caotang—hurry and get yours...”
On the morning of the 10th, downtown Weng’an was bustling with people, as a group of enthusiastic citizens gathered along the road to the ancient town of Caotang, creating an extremely lively scene. Four beauties dressed in ancient costumes were seated in a horse-drawn carriage, one of whom was dressed as the popular character Empress Wu from the hit TV drama “The Empress of China.” They stepped down from the carriage to hand out red packets to passersby, while also asking for directions to the ancient town of Caotang. This attracted quite a crowd, with many locals taking photos with Empress Wu and the other beauties. “Going to Caotang? It’s not far—just go straight along the road,” one helpful citizen said cheerfully. “Empress Wu, why aren’t you acting in dramas? What are you doing in Caotang?” a bystander joked. Empress Wu replied boldly, “I’m here to give out red packets!” Her playful answer drew laughter from the crowd. It is reported that Empress Wu and her entourage will also be handing out Lunar New Year red packets to visitors in the Caotang Ancient Town Tourism Area. Those looking for good luck can try their luck there.
Subsidizing 300 Million Yuan, A Global Audacious Rental Offer
As one of the “Top Ten Cultural Tourism Brands of Guizhou Province” and one of the “Five Business Cards,” the opening of the Thousand-Year Ancient Town Tourism Area in Caotang has introduced a bold commercial property leasing and implementation plan titled “Subsidizing 300 Million Yuan, A Global Audacious Rental Offer.” According to officials from the Weng’an County Tourism Industry Development Committee, this leasing initiative involves over 400 shops, covering a construction area of approximately 140,000 square meters. The business formats include dining and lodging, leisure and entertainment, premium specialties, antiques and calligraphy, folk culture, and tourism services. Eligible investors who set up shop in the tourism area will enjoy up to two years of rent-free periods. Based on the first batch of tenants’ (brands’) rental policy (60 yuan/square meter/month for the first floor, 30 yuan/square meter/month for the second floor, and 15 yuan/square meter/month for the third floor), the total subsidy over the two-year rent-free period will exceed 300 million yuan. It is understood that on the opening day, in addition to attracting over 100 local investors from Guizhou, more than 20 investors from Chongqing also visited the site for inspection. “As a businessman, I’m very optimistic about Weng’an, especially after the highway between Chongqing and Weng’an opened. Caotang Ancient Town will be full of business opportunities,” said Mr. Ren from Chongqing during an interview, praising the area.
The Most Beautiful Place on the 27th Parallel North
Through the joint efforts of the Weng’an County government and private enterprises, the Thousand-Year Ancient Town area in Caotang has become a tourist destination that integrates historical culture, merchant culture, dragon and lion culture, and revolutionary culture. It features the “World’s Largest Opera House” certified by the Guinness World Records headquarters in Shanghai, the Qishan Academy and Qianshan Jinshi Building that carry forward traditional Chinese learning, and revolutionary sites such as the Monkey Field Meeting Site—a national patriotic education base—the former residences of Mao Zedong and the Red Army Cadre Regiment. In addition, the scenic area includes cultural relics and attractions such as the Xiashi Stone Forest, Houyan Viewpoint, the former residence of Song Qin, the Tusi government office, the former residence of Fu Yushu, the Wengyu-Mei Bandit Suppression Command Headquarters, and the Cemetery of Eighteen Revolutionary Martyrs. Beyond that, Weng’an County boasts abundant ecological and mountain-water tourism resources. The Zhujiashan National Forest Park, Jiangjiehe National Scenic Area, Xiashi Stone Forest, Xianqiao Mountain, and Chuandonghe Waterfall are among the areas with the most well-preserved primitive natural ecology on the 27th parallel north. These sites offer the highest concentration of negative oxygen ions in China, making them some of the most beautiful places in China and even the world for wellness, retirement, and spiritual rejuvenation.