On April 27, the press conference for the 10th China Xu Xiake Travel Festival and China Tourism Day celebrations was held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Mr. Chu Yinliang, County Chief of Ninghai County, Zhejiang Province, delivering a speech
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It is reported that the 10th China Xu Xiake Travel Festival, jointly organized by the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Zhejiang Provincial Tourism Bureau, and Ningbo Municipal People’s Government, will open on May 19, China Tourism Day, in Ninghai. The festival will feature a range of activities including the “2012 China Tourism Day Forum,” a nationwide university student campaign to trace Xu Xiake’s footsteps, the National Outdoor Sports Competition and China·Ninghai Outdoor Sports Festival, the Ninghai International Investment Fair, and the Photography Competition for the Charming Ninghai—Birthplace of China Tourism Day. During the event, travel enthusiasts from across the country will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the China Xu Xiake Travel Festival at a music and fireworks gala.
“On the last day of the third month in the guichou year, I left the west gate of Ninghai. The clouds had dispersed, the sun was bright, and both the landscape and the people were filled with joy.” The opening line of Xu Xiake’s Travel Diaries closely links Ninghai with Xu Xiake, the great traveler, geographer, and writer of the Ming Dynasty. In 2002, Ninghai hosted the first Xu Xiake Travel Festival. Over the following decade, with the core goal of advocating for May 19 as China Tourism Day and under the theme “Travel Begins in Ninghai, for All Under Heaven,” the city organized a series of nationally influential events, including the selection of China’s Contemporary Xu Xiake and the university student campaign to follow Xu Xiake’s path.
In April 2011, the State Council announced that May 19 would be designated as China Tourism Day every year, making Ninghai the birthplace of this national observance.
As the 10th Xu Xiake Travel Festival approaches, the people of Ninghai have turned their attention to “heritage application”—seeking to have the Xu Xiake Travel Route listed as a “World Linear Cultural Heritage.” Linear cultural heritage is an emerging field in international cultural preservation in recent years, primarily referring to the collective material and intangible cultural heritage found along linear or belt-shaped regions rich in unique cultural resources. Canals, roads, and railway lines are common examples. In China, well-known linear heritages include the Grand Canal, the Silk Road, and the Long March route.
The Xu Xiake Travel Route is a cultural concept proposed based on the special cultural value of Xu Xiake’s Travel Diaries. Chu Yinliang believes that applying for World Heritage status for the Xu Xiake Travel Route will help further promote and carry forward the spirit of Xu Xiake. He also revealed that the upcoming “2012 China Tourism Day Forum” will invite mayors from selected tourism cities and experts to discuss the significance of China Tourism Day, the cultural value of the Xu Xiake Travel Route, and the application for its World Heritage status.
It is understood that the heritage application for the Xu Xiake Travel Route has gained broad recognition in academic circles. Since 2007, research institutions have sent out three rounds of the “Linear Cultural Heritage Questionnaire” to experts. The ranking of the Xu Xiake Travel Route rose from 45th in the first round to 18th in the third. Last year, after the State Council set May 19 as China Tourism Day, the cultural significance and heritage value of the Xu Xiake Travel Route, based on Xu Xiake’s Travel Diaries, became even more prominent.
Chen Xiaochuan, Editor-in-Chief of China Youth Daily, stated at the press conference that the spirit of Xu Xiake is a rich source of nourishment for the growth of youth and a valuable asset of traditional Chinese culture. China Youth Daily fully supports Ninghai’s efforts to apply for World Heritage status for the “Xu Xiake Travel Route.”
“Spreading Xu Xiake’s culture and promoting his spirit” is the mission of the Xu Xiake Travel Festival. According to reports, over the past ten years, Ninghai County has actively promoted Xu Xiake’s spirit to the public, especially to young people. It has established Xu Xiake Avenue, Xu Xiake Square, and Xu Xiake Park, and initiated the “Xu Xiake Travel Route Summit.” Representatives from 12 node cities across eight provinces gather in Ninghai during the Travel Festival each year for high-level discussions.
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