Numerous leaders attend the launch ceremony
The 2nd "Beautiful Jiangsu · Longevity in Rugao" Tourism and Culture Festival was organized to further consolidate the achievements of the first festival in 2012 and to further build Rugao’s tourism festival brand. It also aimed to support Jiangsu Province’s "Beautiful Jiangsu Happy Tour" campaign, showcase Rugao’s charm and quality as an Outstanding Tourism City in China, and enhance its visibility and reputation. During the launch ceremony, the city hosted a series of activities, including an exhibition and sales fair of Rugao’s distinctive tourism products, a quiz on Rugao tourism knowledge with prizes, performances of local cultural arts, and a special lecture on longevity and wellness culture.
On the evening of the launch ceremony, the premiere of China’s first detective mystery tourism microfilm, "Detective Rugao," was also held. "Detective Rugao" weaves its plot around the investigative techniques of Li Changyu, a "modern-day Sherlock Holmes" born in Rugao. It incorporates trendy cinematic elements such as suspense, action, time-travel, and romance. Through eight unique perspectives — including "viewing standing up" and "viewing while bending over" — the film explores various aspects of Rugao, the World’s Longevity Township, such as its longevity culture, floral and bonsai art, history and heritage, longevity cuisine, folk customs, artisan crafts, and economic development. It unveils the city’s rich tourism resources and comprehensively promotes Rugao. The "Detective Rugao" tourism microfilm is another masterpiece following the country’s first urban tourism microblog anthology, "Micro Breeze from All Directions · Longevity in Rugao." It serves as another flagship representation of Rugao’s tourism and will be a fine souvenir of the destination.
Launch ceremony attracts widespread attention
In 2012, the city hosted the 1st "Beautiful Jiangsu · Longevity in Rugao" Tourism and Culture Festival, achieving fruitful results. It produced China’s first urban tourism microblog anthology, "Micro Breeze from All Directions · Longevity in Rugao," and creatively held its launch ceremony aboard the "Jade Princess" cruise ship on Shanghai’s Huangpu River, rapidly boosting Rugao’s tourism appeal. The city also organized the 8th (Longevity Cup) International Health and Wellness Culinary Competition, attracting cooking experts and contestants from over 20 countries and regions to the Longevity Township, further enhancing Rugao’s influence.
In recent years, the Rugao Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government have consistently prioritized the development of tourism — a sunrise industry, green industry, and livelihood-boosting sector. They have continuously increased funding, accelerated resource development, and strengthened promotional efforts, effectively tapping into and developing Rugao’s abundant tourism resources. In 2012, the city received 5.016 million tourists and achieved a total tourism revenue of 6.02 billion yuan. In the first quarter of this year, it welcomed 1.558 million visitors. The city boasts two national 4A-level scenic spots, four 3A-level scenic spots, one provincial four-star rural tourism destination, two provincial three-star rural tourism destinations, and two self-drive tourism bases. It has the highest number and the highest-tier A-level scenic spots among all counties (cities) in the Nantong region. Through sustained efforts, the four key tourism brands — "World’s Longevity and Wellness Destination," "China’s Capital of Floral Bonsai Art," "Cradle of East China’s Red Revolution," and "Historic and Cultural City of Jiangsu" — have gained significant influence in the Yangtze River Delta tourism market centered around Shanghai. The city brand "World’s Longevity Township, Water-Painted Golden Rugao" has rapidly grown in prominence. Key tourism routes such as "Ancient City Culture Tour," "Longevity and Wellness Tour," "Rural Vacation Tour," "Red Memorial Tour," "Port and New City Tour," and "Industrial Enterprise Tour" have become popular options.