Baoji Breakthrough in Tourism & nbsp; Baoji is the cradle of Chinese civilization. Historical events celebrated through the ages, such as Shennong tasting a hundred herbs, Taibo's migration to Qi, King Wen revitalizing Zhou, King Wu overthrowing the Shang dynasty, Duke Zhou establishing rituals, Duke Xiang founding a state, Duke Mu achieving hegemony, the First Emperor being crowned, and the strategy of open repair of栈道 ( plank roads ) while secretly crossing Chen仓 ( place name ), all took place in Baoji. Historical records indicate that Emperor Yan rose to prominence with the Jiang River, and Emperor Huang with the Ji River. Both the Jiang and Ji Rivers are located in Baoji, thus showing that both Emperors Yan and Huang emerged from Baoji. Baoji is also the birthplace of top-tier cultural achievements of China, such as the "Book of Songs," "I Ching," and "Book of Rites." It is the source of various philosophical schools including Confucianism, Taoism, Legalism, Mohism, and a Buddhist sanctuary. Hence, Baoji is a land rich in feng shui for the Chinese nation, brimming with infinite vitality and dynamism.
The ancient yet youthful city of Baoji sounded the charge for breaking into the cultural tourism industry in 2010. Six new concepts opened up new horizons, and five key sectors shone brightly. The Zhou-Qin Cultural Industry Demonstration Zone passed expert review in Beijing, entering the second batch of Shaanxi Province’s cultural industry demonstration bases; the grand Zhonghua Ritual and Music City attracted numerous tourists and won three national honors, including being named an "International Tourist Cultural Destination"; the newly formed Zhou Ritual Orchestra caused a sensation in Beijing; and the newly constructed Famen Temple Buddha Light Avenue, Shigu Mountain Drum Pavilion, along with the renovated and expanded Jintai View, Ling Mountain Temple, Dasan Pass, and many other scenic spots presented a fresh appearance. Since last year, the development of Baoji's cultural tourism industry has started smoothly. A total of nearly 3 billion yuan has been invested in various funds for the city's cultural tourism industry, with investment growth in cultural tourism projects exceeding 30%. This effectively boosted the rapid recovery of the tertiary sector, which now accounts for 30.5% of the city's GDP, reversing the continuous decline over the past three years and becoming a crucial pillar in building a harmonious and enterprising new Baoji.
In 2008, Baoji's per capita gross national product reached $2,780. According to internationally recognized experience, when per capita GDP reaches $1,000, consumer demand shifts from "eating, wearing, using" to "living, traveling, enjoying," with economic growth largely depending on the expansion of the tertiary sector. Internationally, tourism currently surpasses manufacturing as the leading industry. Baoji's industrial structure also faces a period of adjustment. Particularly important is the Guantian Economic Zone Development Plan released by the state last year, presenting a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Baoji to develop its cultural tourism industry. The plan aims to build the Guantian Economic Zone into a historical and cultural base showcasing Chinese civilization. Among the five major cultural industry parks proposed for construction, Baoji occupies two; among the five premium tourism corridors, Baoji takes three; and among the six top-tier tourism zones, Baoji holds two. Baoji is an excellent Chinese tourist city and one of the top 100 competitive tourist cities in China. With the deep implementation of the plan, making the development of the cultural tourism industry a breakthrough point for the tertiary sector is timely and full of potential.
Baoji is the hometown of Emperor Yan and the ancestral home of the Huaxia people. It is the blessed land where early inhabitants lived, the cradle of the Zhou and Qin dynasties, and the source of poetry and propriety. There are countless stories about the three teachings and endless songs celebrating generations. However, for a long time, Baoji's cultural tourism industry developed slowly, trapped in the "east hot, west cool" anomaly of Shaanxi tourism, with the tertiary sector struggling to accelerate like an old ox climbing a hill. In the face of global resource depletion and interest competition, how Baoji adjusts its industrial structure and changes its development model undoubtedly determines its future direction.