The Hongshui River Art Gallery. [Photo/Hechi Daily]

The third Hechi Cultural Tourism Development Conference took place in Dahua Yao autonomous county from May 30 to 31. Dahua, renowned for its beautiful landscape and the unique charm of the Yao ethnic culture, extended a warm invitation to the audience.

Highlights included stargazing at the Star-Picking Campsite in Beauty Peak, speedboats rides at Gongchuan Lover's Bay and fishing at the ASEAN International Fishing Base. These activities showcase the county's abundant natural resources of "great mountains and great waters," underscoring its several years of commitment to integrating agriculture, culture, and tourism.

In the first quarter of this year, Dahua attracted 778,100 visitors, marking a 21.22 percent increase year-on-year, and generated tourism revenue of 812 million yuan ($ 112 million), reflecting a 20.45 percent year-on-year growth.

These impressive figures have drawn attention and curiosity: How does Dahua leverage its cultural and tourism advantages to maximize vitality?

Development: Leverage power of landscape

Dahua is home to two hydropower stations, Dahua and Yantan, which divide the 160-kilometer-long Hongshui river into three reservoir areas. This division has created a distinctive landscape of high gorges and flat lakes following water storage.

Currently, Dahua boasts four national 4A-level tourist attractions, with three located along the Hongshui River. Attractions include the hundred-mile Hongshui River Art Gallery and Yantan Scenic Area. In December 2021, Dahua was recognized as the second comprehensive tourism demonstration area in Guangxi.

Integration: Delve deep into cultural tourism

Since 2024, Dahua has undertaken breakthrough actions to integrate culture and tourism, emphasizing the customs of the Zhuang and Yao people, red tourism education, culinary wellness, and other distinctive brands. These efforts have nurtured a rich cultural diversity set against the backdrop of Dahua's magnificent mountains and waters.

During this year's Guangxi Sanyuesan Festival, Dahua's Camping Festival attracted thousands of tourists, offering them a unique blend of Zhuang and Yao cultures, folk songs, culinary delights, red culture, and the beauty of the landscape. The county welcomed a total of 71,000 visitors during the festival, generating tourism revenue of 435 million yuan.

Protection: Safeguard a green environment

Beautiful landscapes require protection. As the cultural and tourism industry flourishes, the concept that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets has deeply resonated in Dahua.

Along with the hydroelectric stations, various departments, including agriculture, rural areas, ecology, and education in Dahua, participate in the protection of the Hongshui River. Over the past three years, a total of over 5.2 million fish fry have been released in the Dahua section of the river to maintain basin water quality and ecological balance.

In Hechi's strict assessment of water resource management, Dahua has been rated excellent for five consecutive years from 2019 to 2023, maintaining a safe ecological environment and high ecological quality. As of now, the water quality of the Hongshui River in the jurisdiction has long met or exceeded the Class III surface water quality standards.