On April 14, a press conference was held in Beijing to announce the construction of the self-driving tourism base in the Binhe New Area of Yinchuan, Ningxia, and the launch of the first national self-driving golden tourism route. The Binhe New Area of Yinchuan stated that it strives to build itself into a well-known northwestern self-driving tourism distribution and service center and the capital of China’s self-driving tourism within three to five years.
The Binhe New Area of Yinchuan is located on both sides of the Yellow River and serves as the core and pilot zone of Ningxia’s Inland Open Economy Pilot Zone. The construction of the self-driving tourism base is also the core component of the area’s efforts to become a 5A-level scenic destination across the board. Li Chengrong, Deputy Director of the Administrative Committee of the Binhe New Area of Yinchuan, introduced at the conference that in order to accelerate the development and operation of the self-driving tourism base and seize the high ground in China’s self-driving tourism market, after extensive communication and cooperation with renowned enterprises such as BTG Group and BAIC Group, as well as sister cities in Ningxia, Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi, Gansu, and Qinghai, the People’s Government of Yinchuan, BTG Group, and BAIC Group will jointly organize the inauguration ceremony of the self-driving tourism base and the first national self-driving golden tourism route from April 29 to May 1 this year in the Bingou Tourist Area of the Binhe New Area.
The inauguration ceremony will feature the theme “Explore the Northwest in Your Own Style,” including ten activities: the groundbreaking ceremony of the Bingou self-driving base, the “Green Binhe” 1,000-person hiking event through the Bingou Grand Canyon, the “Focus on Binhe” 2013 Land Rover China Annual Convention by the Off-Road e族, the “Passionate Binhe” Youth Car Enthusiasts Gathering, the “Dynamic Binhe” car and motorcycle desert off-road race, a large bonfire party and Western rock music showdown competition along with performances by award-winning bands, a series of fun activities involving model boats, model cars, and bicycles, and the “Explore Binhe” themed tourism activities. The goal is to establish the brand of the “Binhe New Area Self-Driving Tourism Base” nationwide through these events and gradually spark a new wave of self-driving tourism featuring northwest charm.
During the event, the Binhe New Area will organize participation from nearly 1,000 self-driving vehicles from both within and outside the region through media promotion, travel agency organization, and mobilization by auto and motorcycle sports associations and self-driving clubs. In particular, BAIC Group will deploy 100 dedicated self-driving vehicles and work with BTG Group to comprehensively launch the northwestern self-driving tourism market.
Additionally, this year also includes the compilation and distribution of self-driving tour route guides, hosting photography competitions for the Binhe New Area and northwestern self-driving tourism, as well as organizing evaluations for the best self-driving campsites and outstanding travel blogs, aiming to promote the orderly development of northwestern self-driving tourism centered around Yinchuan.
Attending the press conference were Li Weidong, Vice Mayor of Yinchuan; He Tianjiang, Director of the Tourism Bureau; Dai Xiaoning, Deputy Director of the Propaganda Department; Zhang Jian, Vice General Manager of BAIC Group; Shi Jianzhong, General Manager of the Leisure Company under Beijing Hualong Tourism Development and Construction Co., Ltd. of BTG Group; and Liu Hanqi, Deputy Secretary-General of the China Tourism Automobile and Yacht Association.