Nanming's culture and tourism holiday boom

On the first day of the May Day holiday, Nanming district's Cao Zhuangyuan Street area witnessed a remarkable cultural and tourism boom, with visitor numbers skyrocketing by 570 percent year-on-year to 67,000. Total spending reached 1.35 million yuan ($185,000) – a 160 percent increase – setting a new record for the area.

At the heart of this surge was a vibrant cultural event staged on the historic street. Designed as an immersive experience, the event combined street concerts, crosstalk performances, and historical storytelling, offering sensory delight and cultural enrichment.

The district's bureau of culture and tourism curated performances and activities to breathe new life into local heritage. Experts provided engaging, accessible interpretations of the street's storied past, turning history into a living narrative.

To deepen visitors' appreciation, guests received a complimentary copy of A Cultural Chronicle of Nanming: The "One River, One Road, and Two Zones" Initiative, a compilation detailing the rich historical and cultural resources of the district, now a sought-after guide for culturally curious travelers.

This immersive cultural strategy reflects Nanming's innovative approach to revitalizing heritage. Through a multidimensional storytelling format that integrated folk tales, music, and the performing arts, the district transformed cultural relics from static museum pieces into vivid, contemporary experiences.

Pang Sichun, an expert at the Guizhou Provincial Institute of History and Culture, noted: "We aim to bring relics to life, making cultural memories the spiritual backdrop to modern life."

Equally striking were the economic outcomes: 70 percent of tourists purchased cultural souvenirs or local cuisine, with average spending per visitor doubling compared to normal days. Extended visits driven by cultural engagement also sparked repeat consumption, underscoring the strong link between experience-driven tourism and economic vitality.