Guangdong's scenic city, Heyuan, has witnessed a boom in its tourism sector, generating a total revenue of 42.539 billion yuan during China's 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), as revealed at a press conference held in the capital city, Guangzhou, on December 22.
Press conference on Heyuan's achievements during China's 14th Five-Year Plan period.
Heyuan is located in northeastern Guangdong and is renowned for its abundant tourism resources, featuring rich vegetation, an extensive water network, the distinctive culture of the Hakka people, and the world's largest collection of dinosaur egg fossils.
During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, Heyuan's cultural, tourism, and entertainment sector experienced explosive growth. The number of cultural, sports, and entertainment enterprises surged from 446 in the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020) to 1,739, marking a staggering increase of 389%. The city attracted a cumulative total of 43.2413 million tourists, generating a total tourism revenue of 42.539 billion yuan. The number of 4A-level (China's second-highest rating) tourist attractions rose from 7 to 10, while 3A-level attractions increased from 6 to 21. Furthermore, the city successfully established 9 villages rated for their special cultural and tourism characteristics.
This rapid tourism development is supported by a good ecological environment. Throughout the 14th Five-Year Plan period, Heyuan consistently ranked first in the province for both its water environment and air quality. The city led the province in forest stand optimization and the nurturing of new forests. Its forest stock volume and forest coverage rate have steadily remained among the top three in Guangdong. Additionally, the city's Wanlv Lake was designated as a national 5A-level (China's top rating) tourist attraction, with an average annual growth rate for tourist visits reaching 14.7%, and tourist revenue growing at 22.4%.
Wanlv Lake in Heyuan.
The booming cultural and tourism industry drives overall economic development. In 2024, Heyuan's regional GDP reached 140.772 billion yuan, reflecting a significant 27.7% growth compared to 2020.
Heyuan has also reported significant growth in industry, urban-rural development, and people's welfare, among other areas.
Reporter | Huang Xinyi
Photo | Huang Xinyi, Nanfang Plus
Editor | Hu Nan, James Campion, Shen He
