High-Quality Implementation of the 14th Five-Year Plan: Solid Foundations, Unified Resources and Enhanced Services Drive Shanxi’s Cultural and Tourism Sector

On December 8, Information Office of Shanxi Provincial Government held the 15th press conference of the “High-Quality Implementation of the 14th Five-Year Plan” series. As a key economic link connecting domestic and international markets, urban and rural areas, and production with sales, Shanxi’s commerce sector’s role in supporting development and improving livelihoods attracted wide attention. Officials from the Department of Commerce of Shanxi Province presented recent achievements and answered media questions.

Since the 14th Five-Year Plan began, Shanxi’s cultural and tourism industry has advanced the strategy of “encourage positive interplay between culture and tourism,” promoting innovation and integration. Shanxi’s key tourist attractions have expanded, and the tourism product system has been optimized, laying a strong foundation for high-quality development.

Jin Zhang, Deputy Director General of the Culture and Tourism Department of Shanxi Province, reported: “The number of A-level tourist sites rose from 237 to 462, expected to exceed 500 by year-end. Notably, Jinci Temple-Tianlong Mountain, and Hukou Waterfall were upgraded to 5A status, Qiao Family Compound reopened, increasing national 5A sites from 9 to 12.”

This growth in both quantity and quality has enriched Shanxi’s tourism offerings and boosted service standards and overall benefits. The cultural and tourism sector has become a key driver of regional economic transformation.

Wang Aiqin, Director General of the Culture and Tourism Department of Shanxi Province, said: “From 2021 to 2024, domestic tourists grew by 11.96% annually, with tourism spending up 20.41% per year. The sector’s added value holds steady at about 5% of GDP, becoming a new engine for Shanxi’s economic upgrade.”

Behind these achievements is Shanxi’s innovative branding and promotion, leveraging popular cultural IPs to break regional boundaries and bring its rich history and culture to a wider audience.

Zhao Junlong, Deputy Director General, noted: “We launched flagship campaigns like‘Explore Shanxi Province with Wukong’ and ‘Nobody’s Shanxi Travelogue’. The ‘Explore Shanxi Province with Wukong’ has achieved over 50 billion online impressions, significantly boosting interest in Shanxi’s ancient architecture.”

Turning online attention into real visitors depends on strong infrastructure and services. Shanxi has developed Three “No. 1 Tourism Highway” and launched a smart tourism platform, improving convenience and connectivity for travelers.

Wang Aiqin added: “We have built a 13,000 kilometers tourism highway network connecting cities and scenic spots, constructed over 5,000 new or renovated tourist toilets, upgraded 5G coverage, and launched a smart tourism cloud platform.”

From expanding products to enhancing brands, and from infrastructure to services, Shanxi’s cultural and tourism industry is advancing steadily along a high-quality path. With dedicated service and ongoing improvement, Shanxi aims to turn every visitor into a loyal ambassador, writing a new chapter in cultural and tourism integration and transformation.