On June 25, the 2014 China Sichuan International Cultural Tourism Festival officially kicked off in Guangyuan. Lasting nine days, the festival showcased Guangyuan’s cultural tourism achievements to both domestic and international audiences, aiming to promote exchange and cooperation, as well as industry development. During the event, more than 200 overseas media reporters and nearly 100 domestic media outlets gathered in Guangyuan to experience the city's unique tourism charm together.
As a province rich in tourism resources, Sichuan has hosted seven editions of the International Cultural Tourism Festival. Building on that foundation, the festival continues to innovate, not only satisfying tourists’ diverse travel experiences but also greatly boosting the local cultural tourism industry. What highlights of this Guangyuan Tourism Festival will leave a lasting impression on global visitors? Through advance research, reporters have summarized three one-of-a-kind experiences in Guangyuan tourism:
Thrilling – Conquer the Bird Path and brave the cliffside glass viewing platform
Smart – Full Wi-Fi coverage in scenic areas and self-guided tours via handheld apps
Cultural – Local folk customs and pristine natural charm
The Bird Path plank walk: heart-pounding yet irresistible
The Jianmen Bird Path, carved into the cliffs alongside sheer rock faces, features one side towering a thousand feet high and the other dropping thousands of feet into the abyss. With a vertical height of over 110 meters and a total length of more than 400 meters, climbing it requires using both hands and feet along with iron chains, matching courage with the towering cliffs. Despite the danger, thrill-seekers continue to come for the experience. Midway along the path, there is a rest area where you can gaze into the distance and enjoy a view of the mountains below. Of course, services and safety measures here are thorough and meticulous to prevent any mishaps.
The fan-shaped glass viewing platform next to Liangshan Temple in the Jianmen Pass Scenic Area is the highest point in the entire scenic zone. Cantilevered 25 meters out with a sheer drop of about 220 meters, it is second only to the glass skywalk of the Grand Canyon National Park in the United States, ranking as the second highest and first in Asia. Standing on this seemingly floating glass platform, with the mountain wind whistling past your ears, you can truly feel as if you are walking on clouds and strolling through the sky.
Smart Tourism: Experience “Jianmen Shu Road at Your Fingertips”
As a key venue for this cultural tourism festival, the Jianmen Pass Scenic Area has achieved full Wi-Fi coverage. Visitors can simply scan the official QR codes provided within the scenic area to download an offline mobile app. This app includes the scenic area map, audio guides, recommended routes, and even real-time images from important spots such as the Bird Path and Xiao Chuan Cave. In critical moments, it also allows for a one-touch “emergency call” via mobile phone.
In addition, scenic spots such as Guangyuan’s Huangze Temple and Thousand-Buddha Cliff also offer full Wi-Fi coverage, while other major attractions have official WeChat accounts where visitors can access timely updates on weather forecasts, parking availability, and nearby food and lodging options. “Jianmen Shu Road at Your Fingertips” meets the personalized needs of travelers, improves tourism management efficiency, and is a key component in elevating the quality of tourism services in Guangyuan.
Cultural Tourism: Tracing the Legacy of History
Everywhere you look, there are relics from the Three Kingdoms period, folk stories passed down through generations, Li Bai’s poetic lament that “The road to Shu is hard, harder than scaling the blue sky,” and the hometown of Wu Zetian, the only female emperor in Chinese history... All of these bestow upon Guangyuan—a land of breathtaking natural beauty and rugged challenges—a wealth of mystery and legend. Currently, Guangyuan boasts 14 4A-level tourist attractions, ranking second in the province in terms of tourism resources.
At this cultural tourism festival, key attractions across the city—including Jianmen Pass, Tangjiahe, Qingxi Ancient Town, Zhaohua Ancient Town, and Mingyue Gorge—will showcase Guangyuan’s comprehensive tourism offerings and present a series of high-quality cultural performances with distinct thematic elements.