“A unified price of 100 yuan, 52 spontaneous weekend getaways, and 365 days of unlimited access, taking you to see the most beautiful Beijing in all four seasons.” On April 22, the “Beijing Scenic Annual Pass,” organized by the Beijing Scenic Spots Association, resumed issuance. At a brief launch ceremony held yesterday at Poly Plaza, leaders from the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Landscape and Forestry, the Beijing Scenic Spots Association, and representatives from scenic spots such as the Ming Tombs presented the first annual pass to Mr. Wang Dong, a citizen representative and well-known TV host. The annual pass also went on sale the same day. Citizens can purchase it online via mobile phones or websites, or buy a paper version at park ticket offices.
The first batch of 36 scenic spots joining the “Beijing Scenic Annual Pass” includes both World Heritage Sites such as the Ming Tombs, Juyongguan, and Zhoukoudian, as well as traditional cultural attractions like Yunju Temple and Jietai Temple. Attractions such as Shihua Cave, Ancient Cliff Dwellings, the Water Cube, and the World Grape Expo Park offer unique leisure experiences. Meanwhile, 22 mountains including Lingshan and Baihuashan, 8 forest parks such as Xishan and Jiufeng, and 6 water-themed scenic areas like Yanqi Lake and Longqing Gorge are not only great places to connect with nature but also ideal for fitness, family outings, and ecological education.
The “Beijing Scenic Annual Pass” adopts an electronic ticket format. Before activation, the e-ticket can be easily gifted via text message or WeChat. Upon activation, the actual user provides photo and identity information to ensure one person, one ticket, for individual use only. Once activated, the ticket is stored as a QR code on the visitor’s mobile phone. To enter a scenic spot, visitors simply have the staff scan the QR code with their checking device, which then verifies the photo for entry. Since all information is stored in the “cloud,” the electronic annual pass cannot be forged or lost. In addition to being convenient for citizens, it also provides smart tourism solutions for scenic spots, enabling personalized services and dynamic crowd management. Citizens can purchase the annual pass through the “Beijing Parks and Scenic Areas” website, or learn more through the official Weibo and WeChat accounts under the same name.
Compared to the brief launch ceremony, the simultaneously held “Beijing Scenic Spots Promotion Fair” offered much richer content. Beyond the natural resources of each attraction, reporters strongly felt the “fun” atmosphere — various folk festivals, fitness activities, family-oriented events, special agritainment offerings, even local delicacies, travel souvenirs, and creative cultural products were all on display, offering an overwhelming array of choices. Attendees from the media and guests alike remarked, “So many great places are right on Beijing’s doorstep!” According to Wang Qingling, Secretary-General of the Beijing Scenic Spots Association and event organizer, the association has assembled a professional team that will collaborate with different scenic areas to create events, providing citizens with more choices for holiday and weekend travel.
The annual pass, initiated and organized by the Beijing Scenic Spots Industry Association, primarily aims to integrate resources, build a unified image for Beijing’s scenic spots, and promote the healthy development of the surrounding tourism market. Mr. Zheng Mingcun, President of the Association, said, “We have formed a professional promotional team to listen to citizens’ needs, develop value-added products for scenic areas, and help residents of Beijing fully enjoy the tangible benefits brought by scenic development.”
As 2014 is China’s Year of Smart Tourism, the “Beijing Scenic Annual Pass” applies smart tourism concepts by establishing direct connections between scenic spots and visitors. Through big data analysis and application, as well as innovative communication methods, it sets an example for the sustainable development of the scenic area industry.
Appendix: Introduction to the Beijing Scenic Annual Pass
Name:
Beijing Scenic Annual Pass Beijing Scenic Spots Annual Pass
Organizer: Beijing Scenic Spots Association
Marketing & Promotion: Shanshui Minghe (Beijing) Cultural Communication Co., Ltd.
Technical Support: Youyijing Sheng (Beijing) Technology Co., Ltd.
Unified online price: 100 yuan
Unified paper ticket price: 120 yuan (includes a paper manual)
Usage Rules:
Two steps: Buy – Activate
- After purchase, you receive a ticket number, which can be gifted via SMS or WeChat. Once activated, it is for personal use only. Activating requires providing a photo, ID number, and other information of the user.
“Ticket Holder” app — keep it on your phone
- After purchase, download the “Ticket Holder” mobile app (APP) as guided to activate the annual pass and obtain your personal QR code.
- Scenic area staff will scan your personal QR code with their checking device to verify the validity of the annual pass and match your photo before allowing entry.
- The activated annual pass is for personal use only.
365 days of unlimited access
- The annual pass is valid for 365 days from the date of purchase; it becomes effective 24 hours after activation.
- With the Beijing Scenic Annual Pass, you can enter scenic spots for free within the validity period. Each scenic spot allows one entry per visitor per day.
Scenic spots currently participating in the annual pass (36 in total)
1. Ming Tombs - Changling (World Heritage)
2. Juyongguan Great Wall (World Heritage)
3. Mutianyu Great Wall (World Heritage)
4. Badaling Ancient Great Wall (World Heritage Site)
5. Shuiguan Great Wall (World Heritage Site)
6. Zhoukoudian Peking Man Site (World Heritage Site)
7. Shihua Cave (World Heritage Site)
8. Yunju Temple
9. Longqing Gorge
10. Ancient Cliff Dwellings
11. Songshan Mountain
12. Peach Blossom Valley
13. Yunxiu Valley
14. Baihua Mountain (Mentougou)
15. Baihua Mountain (Fangshan) 16. Jietai Temple
17. Lingshan Mountain
18. Yangtai Mountain
19. Phoenix Ridge
20. Donghu Port
21. Gushanzhai
22. Dingdu Pavilion
23. Yunmeng Mountain Forest Park
24. Badaling Forest Park
25. Jiufeng Forest Park
26. Xishan Forest Park
27. Xiaolongmen Forest Park
28. Mangshan Forest Park
29. Shangfangshan Forest Park
30. Baiwangshan Forest Park 31. Shenglian Mountain
32. Old Elephant Peak
33. Yanqi Lake
34. Water Cube
35. Badaling Great Wall Panoramic Theater
36. World Grape Expo Park
Beijing Scenic Area Association
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