Hohhot's rosy prospects for cultural tourism industry

The 2025 China Native Folk Song Festival, held from July 3 to 6 in Hohhot, highlighted Chinese folk song art and showcased the characteristics of various ethnic minority ballads, presenting a breathtaking visual and auditory feast.

The 2025 China Native Folk Song Festival in Hohhot. [Photo/Hohhot Convergence Media]

The event drew 2.01 million visitors and generated a massive 2.06 billion yuan ($286.6 million) in revenue, showing the stimulating effect of cultural activities on the tourism economy.

Audience members immerse themselves in the festival. [Photo/Hohhot Convergence Media]

The festival featured 65 traditional music groups, including 42 national-level intangible cultural heritage projects and 23 provincial-level intangible cultural heritage projects, presenting a diverse array of national cultures and fostering exchanges among different ethnic groups.

The festival's success demonstrates the effective transformation of cultural resources into economic benefits, injecting fresh vitality into the local cultural tourism industry.

Hohhot, a city that blends the free-spirited essence of the grasslands with a profound historical and cultural heritage, provides the perfect environment for the festival. Unique venues such as the Chilechuan grassland, combined with Hohhot's rich and diverse ethnic cultural elements, add distinctive appeal, attracting numerous visitors and participants.

Performance teams from various provinces formed small troupes with Inner Mongolia's Ulan Muqir, carrying out a total of 14 shows at multiple venues across Hohhot, Ulaanqab, and Ordos, passing on the charm of authentic folk songs, enriching the cultural atmosphere, and elevating the cities' profiles.

A team sings folk songs. [Photo/Hohhot Convergence Media]

By continuously hosting such cultural activities, Hohhot will attract more tourists and enthusiasts, promote cultural tourism industry growth, and establish the city as a model area for integrated cultural and tourism development.