The world is so big, everyone wants to see it. With the arrival of the mass tourism era, tourist spots are bustling with crowds, but the uncivilized behavior that often comes along with travel has frequently tarnished those good intentions.
In recent years, China’s uncivilized tourism behavior has spread from domestic to international scenes, becoming all too common. Domestically: causing disturbances on AirAsia flights, forcibly opening emergency aircraft doors, climbing on Red Army statues for photos, fondling and kissing female statues at revolutionary sites, and more; Internationally: graffiti on cultural relics, loud talking in public places, cutting in line at duty-free shops, and so on.
Civilized tourism is not only about personal image but also about the image of the entire country. Practicing civilized tourism is an obligation every traveler should uphold.
To create a civilized and harmonious tourism environment and showcase the beautiful image of Xiangyang as a travel destination, on the morning of May 16th, a series of public welfare activities themed “Protect the Ancient City, Promote Civilized Tourism,” organized by the Xiangyang Municipal Bureau of Tourism, was held in Xiangyang’s ancient city. On the day of the event, over a hundred young reporters gathered under the ancient city walls to read out the “City Wall Declaration.”
City Wall Declaration
Be civilized – Don’t draw, don’t step, don’t pick. Our city walls have stood for thousands of years. Please don’t carve your “I was here” on them—etching on their surface causes pain in our hearts. The lawns are this city’s most beautiful attire; don’t trample on them. The flowers that bloom in every season are the city’s loveliest makeup; leave them be so they can smile and bloom.
Be polite – Our words and actions reflect the conduct of this city. Many visitors come here every day, and we want to leave them with a great impression so they won’t want to leave—and will want to come back. So let’s keep smiling and say “hello” and “thank you” often.
Be clean – The daily flow of people often leaves behind litter that shouldn’t be there. Starting with ourselves, let’s put trash where it belongs—in the bins. Clean and tidy streets are what our ancient city deserves.
Be orderly – Whether shopping, dining, going up the city wall, or entering scenic spots, queuing is often unavoidable. Please stay calm and take a moment to appreciate the scenery of this city. A little wait might bring you a much more beautiful mood.
President Xi once said we should “be able to see the mountains, view the waters, and remember our homesickness.” Today we say: by protecting our ancient city—our home—with care, we preserve the most beautiful homesickness of our generation. Let’s act together, starting with ourselves, starting with small actions, starting now.