On December 30, 2016, at the Beijing National Convention Center, 36 top domestic self-drive routes and 12 overseas self-drive routes of the 2016 China Self-Drive Tour Route Selection were unveiled in the presence of opinion leaders, partners, and over a hundred mainstream media both on-site and off. The Ninghua “Hakka Origins Exploration | Explore Shibi & Visit the Soviet Area” route won the Gold Award in the Short-Distance Exploration Category among the national 36 self-drive tour routes.
On March 6, 2017, the Sanming and Ninghua tourism bureaus at the city and county levels, led by Chen Xin, Director of the Sanming Tourism Bureau and Vice Chairman of the Sanming CPPCC, and Shao Dongke, Deputy County Magistrate of Ninghua County Government, jointly held the “Hakka Origins Exploration | Explore Shibi & Visit the Soviet Area” 2017 Self-Drive Tour Planning Release at the Shanghai International Fashion Center Auditorium. The event further introduced the distinctive natural, cultural, and culinary tourism resources of Sanming and Ninghua, offering effective travel options for self-drive enthusiasts across the country planning their 2017 leisure itineraries.
The release event featured a screening of the Ninghua tourism promotional video. Zhou Jingyi, Head of the Market Section of the Sanming Tourism Bureau, introduced the rich tourism resources of Sanming to attendees, while Li Yan, the Tourism Image Ambassador of Sanming, hosted the event and highlighted the tourism characteristics of Ninghua County. The Sanming and Ninghua tourism bureaus also announced special tourism preferential policies for Shanghai and surrounding cities and counties. The Ninghua Tourism Bureau organized three Ninghua Hakka snack chefs, including Sun Fu’an, a registered master chef in China, to demonstrate the preparation of raw fish slices — one of the “Top Ten Famous Dishes of Fujian.” The Ninghua raw fish slices were also designated as one of the ten local specialty dishes at the 2017 Self-Drive Tour Conference dinner, and were the only live-demonstrated dish, astonishing and earning high praise from attending guests and media.
Over 20 heads of well-known travel agencies in Shanghai, as well as more than 100 major national media outlets, attended the event.
It is reported that in February this year, Shanghai Aijia Culture Media Co., Ltd. specially organized a microfilm production team to film the tourism promotional microfilm “Tracing Hakka Origins” in the five counties and cities of Ninghua, Sha County, Sanyuan, Yong’an, and Mingxi in Sanming. The aim was to further promote the “Hakka Origins Exploration | Explore Shibi & Visit the Soviet Area” route, with the premiere held on March 6.
[Introduction to Ninghua County]
Ninghua County, located in the western part of Fujian Province in Sanming City, has a history of over 1,290 years since its establishment.
Ninghua is the ancestral homeland of all Hakka people worldwide. Starting from the Yongjia period of the Western Jin Dynasty, large numbers of Central Plains ancestors migrated southward to the Min-Jiang border area centered around Ninghua’s Shibi to escape war. By the Tang and Song dynasties, Shibi had gathered tens of thousands of migrating Han people, giving rise to the first generation of Hakka people. Thereafter, the Hakka ancestors used Shibi as a new starting point for outward expansion, even crossing the seas. Today, descendants of the Hakka people are spread across more than 100 countries and regions, numbering over 100 million, including more than 6 million people from over 60 common surnames in Taiwan connected to the Shibi Hakka. Since 1995, October has been designated as the World Hakka Ancestral Worship Month at Shibi. The “Shibi Hakka Ancestral Worship Customs” have been included in the Extended List of National Intangible Cultural Heritage. The Hakka Ancestral Land has been listed as a Cross-Strait Exchange Base by the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.
Ninghua is also one of the four starting points of the Long March by the Central Red Army. During the Second Revolutionary Civil War, out of a total population of 130,000, 13,700 joined the Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army. The entire county contributed food and funds to support the Central Soviet Government and the Red Army, earning the reputation as the “Ukraine of the Central Soviet Area.” Veteran proletarian revolutionaries such as Mao Zedong, Zhu De, and Peng Dehuai all conducted revolutionary activities in Ninghua. In January 1930, Mao Zedong wrote the renowned poem “Like a Dream – New Year’s Day” here.
In terms of transportation, the Yongning Expressway has been completed and opened to traffic. The planned Xingquan and Pumei railways (Ninghua section) and other transit hubs will further shorten the time and space distance between the region and coastal areas and major cities.
[Introduction to Ninghua Tourism Resources]
Key tourism resources in Ninghua include the Shibi Hakka Ancestral Land and Swan Cave National Geopark, with efforts underway to build three major cultural tourism brands: “The Mysterious Hakka Ancestral Land,” “The Sacred Starting Point of the Long March,” and “The Magical National Geopark.”
Ninghua’s Shibi is globally recognized as the ancestral land of the Hakka people and serves as the spiritual home of all Hakka people. The Hakka Ancestral Land is a national 4A-level tourist attraction. Every October, Ninghua hosts the annual World Hakka Ancestral Worship Ceremony at Shibi. The ceremony follows ancient rites and is preceded by colorful folk performances.
Ninghua is one of the four starting points of the Red Army’s Long March and is known as the “Ukraine of the Central Soviet Area.” The Ninghua Revolutionary Memorial Park, the Long March Departure Memorial Plaza, and the former site of the Red Army Hospital are among the nation’s 100 classic red tourism scenic spots.
Ninghua is home to the Swan Cave Group Geopark, known as the “No. 1 Geological Wonder in China.” The Swan Cave Group consists of nearly 100 uniquely styled caves, including the Swan Cave, Shenfeng Dragon Palace underground river, Daciyan, Hakka Folk Custom Garden, Crystal Cave, and Mountain Stream Gorge. The Swan Cave features an underground river, which is unique in China.
Ninghua offers high-end yet affordable hotels, with one three-star, one four-star, and one five-star hotel in the county, totaling about 1,000 beds. The Ninghua Hakka International Hotel is a comprehensive hotel themed around Hakka culture, featuring 310 exquisitely designed, luxurious, comfortable, and elegantly styled guest rooms. With new facilities, a pleasant environment, and great cost-performance, the Ninghua Hakka Guesthouse is themed around Hakka flavors and offers over 200 various types of luxury guest rooms and suites.
[Related Preferential Policies for Tourism in Sanming and Ninghua]
1. Overview of Sanming Tourism and Preferential Policies:
Sanming combines enlightened culture, pristine landscapes, and civilized customs. Located in central Fujian, this 22,900-square-kilometer green land is home to 2.84 million people living leisurely amid poetic scenery. Vast green fields, dense forests, striking red rock formations, unique karst caves, idyllic farmland, and profound ancient culture form an ecological tapestry where nature and humanity blend seamlessly. Sanming boasts not only legendary landscapes “as crimson as rouge and as dazzling as rosy clouds,” but also poetic countryside “where the rustling of bamboo signals the return of washerwomen and the lotus leaves part for fishing boats,” along with simple, unspoiled charm “transcending the mundane and revealing true nature.” The brand essence of Leisurely Sanming can be summarized in five aspects: “Ancient Origins of Min, Leisurely Mountains and Waters of World Heritage Sites, Profound Sentiments of the Hakka People, Nostalgic Longing of Peach Blossom Spring, and Civilized City of Exquisite Cuisine.”
Key incentive policies include: 1. Air travel tour groups of 50 or more receive rewards from the Sanming Tourism Bureau and Sha County Airport; 2. Passengers arriving at Sha County Airport by flight can claim a “One Card, Free Travel in Sanming” voucher at the airport with their boarding pass, allowing free entry to 28 branded scenic spots in Sanming, with a total value of 1,364 yuan.
2. Preferential Policies for Tourism from Shanghai and Surrounding Provinces and Cities in Ninghua County
(1) Validity Period: March 10, 2017, to March 9, 2018.
(2) Target Beneficiaries: Self-drive tour groups organized by travel agencies from Shanghai and the four surrounding provinces and cities (Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Hunan, Hubei) who stay overnight in Ninghua and visit two or more paid scenic spots.
(3) Discount Items and Standards: ① Check-in at three-star hotels such as Hakka International Hotel, Hakka Guesthouse, and Swan Hotel at 30% off the listed price; ② Paid scenic spots within the county at 30% off the marked price; ③ The Ninghua Tourism Bureau provides a reward of 15 yuan per person to tour operators from the five provinces and cities for each visitor attracted to Ninghua.
[Tour Routes and Scenic Spot Introductions]
1. Hakka Origins Exploration | Explore Shibi & Visit the Soviet Area Route Itinerary:
Day 1 Soul-Stirring Stone Walls, Tracing the Distant Past 9:00 Depart for Hakka Ancestral Land (17 km); 9:40–11:30 Visit Shibi Hakka Ancestral Hall – Chentang Red Army Hospital; afternoon return to the county town to sample Ninghua Hakka snacks; 16:30–18:00 Visit the Revolutionary Memorial Hall at Beishan Park; 18:10 Return to the hotel
Day 2 Explore the Natural Underground River, Drift Through an Underwater Stone Forest 9:00–11:40 Discover Swan Cave Scenic Area; 13:00–15:30 Visit Tixian Puppet Show in Shuixi Town – Ningjia Courtyard along the Stream; 16:00 Return to Sanming
2. Introduction to Scenic Spots Along the Route
(1) Hakka Ancestral Land
In the 1980s, the "Hakka craze" emerged and grew both domestically and internationally, with Hakka people from around the world flocking to Ninghua in search of their roots. To meet the needs of the global Hakka ancestral pilgrimages, in 1995, Ninghua County built the World Hakka Ancestral Hall on Shibi. In October 2012, the first phase of the expansion of the Hakka Ancestral Land, namely the construction of the Hakka Ancestral Hall Worship Axis, was completed. Since 1995, Ninghua has designated October each year as the Hakka Ancestral Worship Month. Nearly one million descendants of Hakka people from over 30 countries and regions have come to pay homage. In 2013, it was designated as a Cross-Strait Exchange Base by the Taiwan Affairs Office. In 2014, it was approved as a National 4A-level Tourist Attraction, and in 2015, it became a “China Overseas Chinese International Cultural Exchange Base.”
Behind the Hakka Ancestral Land archway, the structures are arranged in sequence: the Distribution Plaza, Root-Seeking Road, Source-Tracking Bridge, Mountain Gate, Ancestral Worship Plaza, Kudzu Plaza, Stele Pavilion, Mast Cluster, and Hakka Ancestral Hall. The four large characters “Hakka Ancestral Land” inscribed on the archway were personally written by the Hakka luminary and former Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, General Yang Chengwu. The four characters “Hakka Ancestral Hall” were personally inscribed by the Hakka luminary and former Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the CPPCC, Ye Xuanping. The eight large characters “Eternal Bloodline” and “Bond with Shibi” carved on both sides of the archway are in the calligraphy style of Huang Shen, a famous painter and calligrapher from Ninghua during the Qing Dynasty and one of the “Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou.” The two characters “Chaozong” are in the calligraphy style of Yi Bingshou, a renowned calligrapher from Ninghua during the Qing Dynasty. The four large characters “Shenzhong Zhuiyuan” (Revere the Ancestors and Trace the Origins) above the Mountain Gate were inscribed by Tsang Hin-chi, a Hakka luminary and Chairman of the Board of Goldlion Holdings in Hong Kong. The plaque above the main hall, bearing the three elegant and flowing characters “Huai Zu Dian” (Ancestral Memorial Hall), was inscribed by Wu Poh-hsiung, former Chairman and current Honorary Chairman of the Kuomintang. The three characters “Hakka Soul” on the front of the Hakka Soul Stele Pavilion were written by the late Yao Meiliang, former member of the National Committee of the CPPCC and President of the Nanyang Wing Fung Group in Hong Kong.
(2) Ninghua Hakka Snacks
Ninghua Hakka snacks originated from the dietary customs of the Han people in the Central Plains. There are over 300 varieties, characterized by meticulous ingredient selection, fine craftsmanship, and unique flavors. Moreover, all ingredients are locally sourced, handmade, natural, and pollution-free.
Currently, 61 varieties of Ninghua Hakka snacks have been rated as “Famous Snacks of Fujian,” including Shaomai (steamed dumplings), rice buns, Huangjun fish rolls, fish ball soup, glutinous rice wine, sticky rice cake, fermented tofu, fried tofu, pork belly rolls, soybean rolls, bamboo shoot rolls, taro balls, fried bean curd sheets, and others. Among them, five snacks—Shaomai, rice buns, fish ball soup, sticky rice wine, and fried tofu—have been rated as “Famous Snacks of China.”
Ninghua sashimi is one of the “Top Ten Famous Dishes of Fujian.” Paper-thin slices of sashimi dipped in ginger juice, soy sauce, and mustard will amaze you with their freshness. The raw fish used for Ninghua sashimi comes from grass carp. Slicing the fish requires excellent knife skills—the slices must be thin and translucent. The sashimi is cool, fresh, delicious, elastic, and chewy. The fish head and bones are cooked into a soup that is flavorful and beneficial for clearing liver heat and improving eyesight.
Ninghua dried rat, along with Shanghang dried radish, Yongding dried vegetables, Mingxi dried meat slices, Changting dried tofu, Wuping pig bile liver, Liancheng sweet potato chips, and Qingliu bamboo shoot chips, are collectively known as the “Eight Famous Dried Foods of Western Fujian.” Every autumn, to control rodents and protect crops, people use bamboo tube traps to catch field mice, which are then made into dried rats. Stir-frying dried rats with winter bamboo shoots and pork belly, along with a splash of rice wine to remove the gaminess, creates a delicious game dish. Dried rats are high in protein, beneficial for kidney and spleen health, and particularly effective in treating bedwetting in children.
Ninghua also offers Bai Zhan Ji (white-cut chicken), stir-fried bird’s nest, and other dishes from the “Eight Great Hakka Dishes of Ninghua,” allowing you to enjoy the flavors while experiencing the hospitality of the Hakka people. After a hearty meal, sip a cup of Lei Cha (pounded tea) to refresh your palate, cut through the greasiness, and bring overall comfort. There is also pure glutinous rice-brewed Hakka wine, a millet-based liquor renowned for its mellow sweetness and strong kick, often hailed as the “Red Army Cola.”
(3) Ninghua County Revolutionary Memorial Hall
Established in October 1976 in Beishan, the county town. In 2005, the Ninghua County People's Government integrated and renovated the Revolutionary Memorial Hall, the Revolutionary Martyrs Monument, and the original Beishan Park into the Ninghua Revolutionary Memorial Park, serving as a spiritual civilization base for commemorating revolutionary martyrs, promoting revolutionary traditions, and providing patriotic education. The total area is 100 mu (approximately 6.67 hectares), with the memorial building covering 2,023 square meters, the construction area 2,143 square meters, and the exhibition area 783 square meters. The current “History of the Revolutionary Struggle in Ninghua” exhibition utilizes rich photographic and physical materials, along with modern display methods such as projectors, video all-in-one players, and electronic flipbooks, vividly presenting the revolutionary struggle history of Ninghua through seven sections: the Spark of Revolution, a Prelude to Red Governance, the Ukraine of the Central Soviet Area, the Starting Point of the Red Army Long March, Marching Towards Great Victory, Forging an Immortal Monument, and the Eternal Flame of Revolution.
(4) Introduction to the Swan Cave Group
The Swan Cave Group was designated as a National Geopark in 2004. The Swan Cave Group Scenic Area has developed and constructed several explorable karst caves, including Swan Cave, Daciyan, and the Shenvlong Dragon Palace underground river with its underwater stone forest.
The Swan Cave Group is best known for its spectacular karst landforms. The cave group consists of nearly 100 uniquely shaped caves, including Swan Cave, Shenvlong Dragon Palace Underground River, Daciyan, Hakka Culture Garden, Crystal Cave, and the Mountain Stream One-Line Sky. The cave interiors feature mysterious, varied, dazzling, water-and-sky-unified, and ever-changing landscapes. Experts from the Karst Geology Research Institute of the former Ministry of Geology and Mineral Resources have confirmed that the “scale of the cave group, the number of caves, the density of cave distribution, and the development of karst landscapes” are “the best in Fujian,” earning it the title of “A Rare Cave Group World in Southeastern China.” The underground river with its underwater stone forest is particularly unique in China, featuring a vast and majestic cave hall, a deep and mysterious river channel, and a winding, kilometer-long path. After evaluation by academicians from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, it has been described as “a unique underwater stone forest and an captivating geological wonder.”
(5) Tixian Town Puppet Show
The puppet show in Tixian Town is a form of string puppetry, also known as marionette theater, a widely popular folk art in Hakka regions. In the past, puppet troupes were invited to perform during festivals, celebrations, and temple fairs. During performances, puppeteers manipulate the puppets backstage while singing and accompanied by music.
A typical Tixian Town puppet troupe consists of two performers and three musicians. Different puppet roles have different strings, with the clown character usually having the most due to its complex movements. The puppetry roles are similar to those in Peking Opera, divided into Sheng (male), Dan (female), Jing (painted face), Mo (supporting male), and Chou (clown), each with specific movement standards. For example, civil officials perform four actions upon entering: adjusting the hat, straightening the clothes, lifting the robe, and tucking the belt. Sheng characters walk in an eight-character step, Dan characters in small, quick steps, and combat scenes are even more intricate, requiring higher manipulation skills.
The puppet troupe from Yankou Village in Tixian Town has a history of over a hundred years. The performances mostly feature historical classics such as “Water Margin,” “Romance of the Three Kingdoms,” “The Generals of the Yang Family,” and “The Legend of Yue Fei,” as well as folk tales.
[Venue Support] Shanghai International Fashion Center [Audiovisual Support] Hualida Audiovisual
[Omni-Media Live Broadcast] Weihoo Live, LIVE GIFFING [Official Video Team] Zheyanchuan Media [Font Collaboration] Han Yi Font Library
[Opinion Leader Trophy and Gift Sponsor] Cooper Tire USA [Special Collaboration] SMART Resort Real Estate Expert Committee Camping World
[Official Designated Vehicle] eHi Car Services [Preliminary Hall Services] Mubai Craft Garden, Snow Beer [Tea Break Management] Yaowang Wealth Management
[2016 China Self-Driving Tour Route Selection Annual Report] China Tourism Academy Kunming Branch [2016 China Self-Driving Tour Annual List Management] eHi Car Services, Car Intelligence, Taik Home Stays, Huizuche, NewRank, AC Automotive
[Conference Content Co-Creation] China Telecom Number Hundred, Baojia Travel, Chehejia, SMART Resort Industry Committee, BTG Homeinns Hotels Group, Camping World, Archimedes, eHi Car Services, Yujing Auto, Camping World, Taik Home Stays, AVIC Aitour, Panda Media, iResearch Capital, Flying Horse Travel, Kuaiyixing
[Exclusive Cloud Photography Partner] V.Photos
[Future Cars Life Show Co-Creation] Cooper Tire USA, Baojia Travel, eHi Car Services, AIVILLA RV, Taik Home Stays, Hongyu West RV, Camping World, CAS Tuning Car Show, 599 4WD Club, Honghong Auto, BTG Homeinns Hotels Group, Sichuan Ganzi Prefecture Tourism Development Commission, Guizhou Gui’an New Area Tourism and Cultural Industry Development Center, Binghu Car Fridge, Shanghai Oushen Tent, Australian D’Este RV, Nomad RV, Lucheng Network, Huisi Cheng RV, Shanghai Haiyi RV Club, Shanghai Shunlv Auto Co., Ltd., Chuanyue Auto Club China, Chengdu Dianxing Self-Driving Club, Beijing Target Action Car Club, On the Road Self-Driving, FILA, DELSEY, VANS, PERFECT MOMENT, MIZUNO, NICE CLAUP, BASIC HOUSE, ABLE JEANS, Tide Life (red text indicates fashion center brands)
[Press Conference] CTS Overseas Autotour RV Travel, Ninghua County Tourism Bureau, Contour Global Travel, eHi Car Services, Cooper Tire USA, Camping World, Lucheng Network
[Chair of the Selection Committee]
Travel/Support: eHi Car Services, Baojia Mobility, Hertz China, GreenGo, Charging Network, Zhida Technology, Yujing Auto, Kuaiyixing, Shanghai Huibao, AutoSuperman, Yuanmeng Health, AC Automotive
Tourism/Accommodation: Home Inns Group, SMART Resort Property Experts Committee, Camping China, China Ancient Villages & Towns Congress, AVIC Aiyoubing, Ziyouke, Fanqie Lai Le, Fliggy Travel, Mafengwo Travel Network, Taiker Homestays, Beijing International Tourism Commodities Expo, Dot Technology
Promotion/Research: Youku Travel, Archimedes, Better Life Magazine, Sina Auto, Car Intelligence Magazine, Panda Media, Focus Media, China Outdoor Media Network, Top Landmarks, iResearch Group, China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation, Xcar
[Secretariat]
Selection Initiator: Aijia Media
Annual Selection Report Compilation Organization: Kunming Branch of China Tourism Academy
Honorary Cooperative Provinces for the Selection: Sichuan Provincial Commission of Tourism Development, Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Tourism, People's Government of Wenjiang District, Chengdu
[Supporting Organizations]: Sichuan Provincial Commission of Tourism Development, Guizhou Provincial Commission of Tourism Development, Ganzi Prefecture Commission of Tourism Development of Sichuan Province, Sanming Municipal Bureau of Tourism of Fujian Province, Qiannan Prefecture Commission of Tourism Development of Guizhou Province, Qiandongnan Prefecture Commission of Tourism Development of Guizhou Province, Huaxi Tourism Management Committee of Guizhou Province, Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture Bureau of Tourism of Qinghai Province, Pingwu County People’s Government of Mianyang City, Huangpu District Bureau of Tourism of Shanghai, Guian New Area Tourism, Culture and Industry Development Center of Guizhou Province, Jiading District Bureau of Tourism of Shanghai, Wenjiang District Bureau of Tourism of Chengdu, Ninghua County Bureau of Tourism of Sanming City, Sunite Right Banner Culture, Sports, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau of Xilin Gol League, Westbound Starting Point, Saihantala Hot Springs, Jurong Extreme Old Boys Cultural Media Co., Ltd., Maxim’s, Snow Beer, French Le Florean, Wuwai Shanshui.ArtGarden, Lewenske Piano
(Ranking above is not in any particular order)
[Media Supporters]: Youku Travel, Better Life Magazine, Sina Auto, Dot Technology, Aicar, Xinhua News Agency, Jiefang Daily, China Automotive News, China Tourism News, Travel Weekly, The Paper, Jiemian, National Business Daily, Auto Observation, Auto Commune, Autospy, Private Geography, Bund Pictorial New Media, Lucheng Network, Pinchain Travel, Hummingbird Travel, Ali Car Reviews, Travel Business Observer, Friends Online, Livetime Travel Network, Hikers Outdoor Network, Cool Travel Media, Suzhou Radio & Television Urban Media, Dalian Traffic Radio, Tong Jiren Car Review (Ranking above is not in any particular order)