Lit-up Lijiang River welcomes global partners at night in guilin

The opening ceremony of the Global Cross-Border Tourism Conference was held on the evening of May 31 in Guilin, Guangxi. A total of 2,000 representatives from the tourism industry across 67 countries and regions gathered to discuss cross-border tourism cooperation. 

The ceremony blended traditional water-based performances featuring the intangible cultural heritage of Bianzhong chimes and suona horns with Chinese-style electronic music, complemented by robotic dogs, robotic lion dances, and drone displays, creating a fusion of ancient and modern elements.

Jackie Chan, Ctrip's Global Ambassador for Chinese Tourism and renowned actor, attended the event to promote inbound tourism to China. He extended an invitation to the global industry, welcoming tourists from all countries to visit China, and many international guests joined him in learning Chinese kung fu.

Chan appears on the Lijiang River aboard a bamboo raft. [Photo provided to guangxi.chinadaily.com.cn/guilin]

Concurrently, the "Hospitable China" Inbound Tourism Outlook Seminar took place, with a strong focus on improving service quality and advancing brand development. The conference launched six themed inspection routes, including "Panoramic Guilin: Classic Landscapes" and "Exploring Ancient Ling Canal and Chasing Fun at Qingtan".

Chan greets attendees at the event. [Photo provided to guangxi.chinadaily.com.cn/guilin]

Many international guests praised Guilin's unique setting of a city nestled among forests and the scenic beauty of the Lijiang River. They also expressed keen interest in the digital transformation underway in China's cultural and tourism sector, as well as the growing niche and in-depth tourism products. The guests described the conference as an excellent platform for learning from China's rich experience in cultural and tourism development.

Overseas influencers pick up Chinese kung fu impromptu at the event. [Photo provided to guangxi.chinadaily.com.cn/guilin]

Guilin Night provided an efficient platform for travel agents from various countries to learn about new products and services in China's inbound tourism sector. This marks a milestone for Guangxi's inbound tourism industry.

With the launch of Guilin's global promotion plan, cooperation between Guilin and the domestic and international tourism industries will continue to deepen, injecting new momentum into global cross-border tourism.

Ctrip Group hosts its Envision Global Partner Conference alongside the event. [Photo provided to guangxi.chinadaily.com.cn/guilin]