The Statistics Bureau of Hunan Province announced, on May 3, 2017, that 2,905 cultural enterprises above designated scale in Hunan had business income of 88.998 billion yuan in the first quarter, an increase of 14.1% over last year and 3.1 percentage points higher than the national average growth rate. Cultural industry registered a strong development momentum. Cultural manufacturing took the lead with operating revenue of 68.16 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 16.3%. The business income of wholesale and retail industry related to culture increased 11.5% year on year to 7.793 billion yuan; that of cultural services rose by 5.1% to 13.044 billion yuan. In terms of the categories of cultural industry, stationery companies had the highest income. They registered an operating revenue of 53.998 billion yuan in the first three months. The growth rate of cultural art; cultural entertainment; cultural information transmission; and stationery were all higher than the provincial average, being 58.6%, 26.7%, 25.6%, and 17.5% respectively. Statistics showed that Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan city cluster is the “main land” for Hunan’s cultural enterprises. The area had an operating revenue of 57.144 billion yuan in the first quarter, accounting for 64.2% of the provincial total. Dongting Lake area and Southern Hunan enjoy a great potential to develop cultural industry. The business income of cultural enterprises in the two places rose by over 19%. Translator: Xiao Juan 

News 2017-05-02 16:32 View：1565

On May 1st, on Zhangjiajie Charming Xiangxi culture square, domestic and overseas tourists see Xiangxi folk artists performance of national intangible cultural heritages. As we have learned, Zhangjiajie Charming Xiangxi grand theater gives national intangible cultural performance every night at 6:30.Over 20 folk artists, dressed in national costumes, giving a performance of bamboo dance happily and smoothly. It not only wins the applause of tourists, also from time to time attracts some visitors to participate in interactive passion.Zhangjiajie Charming Xiangxi company controller introduces that free launching intangible cultural performance aims to a greater degree national culture, enrich the connotation of the zhangjiajie tourism products. In May, these five big xiangxi minority folk artists will also be free in Wulingyuan scenic area core collection and distribution center for tourist performance. In addition, directed by famous director Feng Xiaogang has upgraded Zhangjiajie Charming Xiangxi, at the end of May, it will meet with global audiences.Translated by Sophia

News 2017-05-01 16:40 View：1202

Governor of Hunan Province Xu Dazhe visited Permanent Secretariat of Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Forum Macao) and Nam Kwong (Group) Co., Ltd. on April 27, 2017. He discussed issues with them about exchange and cooperation during the visit. Secretary General Wang Qun accompanied him on the tour. Vice Chairman of the CPPCC National Committee Edmund Ho Hau-wah, Macao S.A.R. Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai On, Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao S.A.R. Wang Zhimin, and Political Commissar of the People’s Liberation Army Macao Garrison Zhang Zhimeng met with the delegation respectively. Ho warmly welcomed the guests and expressed that Hunan was expected to continue to deepen exchanges with Macao. Macao and Hunan’s concerted efforts and pragmatic cooperation will contribute more to the “Belt and Road” initiative, he added. Chui said that Macao will work closely with Hunan to continuously improve the level of opening-up and common development, so as to achieve mutual benefits and win-win results. In the afternoon, Governor Xu attended the Conference of Entrepreneurs from Macao Industrial and Commercial Circles. He expected them to continue their supports for Hunan’s reform and progress as always. The communication channels are expected to be further improved to achieve a wider range and deeper level collaboration. Macau Secretary for Economy and Finance Lionel Leong Vai Tac attended the meeting. Hunan Secretary General Wang Qun presided over the meeting. During the conference, Xu led relevant provincial department leaders to extend in-depth communication with heads of Macau counterparts, including Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, Macao Chamber of Commerce, Hotin Industry Co., Ltd., Macao Innovation Group Co., Ltd., HN Group Limited, Vang Kei Hong Trading Co., Ltd., and Hunan Chamber of Commerce in Macau. They had heated discussions on enhanced exchanges and cooperation between Macao and Hunan, and improvement on Hunan’s investment environment. They also made their comments on Hunan’s implementation of innovation-oriented development and rise of Hunan via opening up strategy.Translator: Yu Jiangjiang

News 2017-05-01 16:33 View：925

Activities celebrating Miao people's traditional “Girls' Day” will be held in Hunan's Suining County on May 1-5,2017.The theme of these activities is "Beautiful Girls Living in a Miraculous Oasis".The traditional event includes the following highlights:BanquetTime: At 6:00PM, May 2Venue: Suining National HotelActivity: Holding a large banquet; Visitors will join in the Miao people's "Maypole" dance with married Miao women who returned their parents' home. Opening Ceremony and Evening GalaTime: At 8:00PM, May 2 (Tentative)Venue: Indoor stadium of Suining Sports CenterActivities: Poverty alleviation-themed stories telling and folk performancesSouthwest Hunan Specialty Festival and Commodity FairDuration: May 2-5Venue: Dahan Commercial StreetActivities: All E-commerce businessmen in southwest Hunan will be invited to the fair to promote the area's local specialties, tourism products, local delicacies and intangible culture heritage through online/offline channels. Traditional Handicrafts Making in Zhaishi TownDuration: May 1-3Venue: Zhaishi TownActivities: Participating in folk performances such as taigushi (A folk performance integrating story-telling,painting,opera,silk figure,paper art,and acrobatics) dragon dance;traditional handicrafts making including paper-cut,embroidery,carved preserved fruit,and silver ornament.Freestyle Sports Competition in Dayuan Miao VillageDuration: May 1-3Venue: Dayuan Miao VillageActivities: Holding sports events such as wife-carrying contest and stilt race; presenting folk customs including lanmen wine (A polite way to greet guests),ciba (Glutinous rice cake) making,and straw dragon dance. Forest Tour in Huangsang Valley and Folk Customs ExperienceDuration: May 3-4Venue: Huangsang Valley scenic areaActivities: Guest greeting ceremony and worshipping rituals of Bana tribe.Origin of the FestivalThe festival is observed to commemorate Yang Li'niang, an ancient Miao heroine of the Song Dynasty (960-1279). Specific to Miao women only, it is normally celebrated in the Hmong regions of Hunan Province, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and Guizhou Province that are near to Suining County. The festival was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2008. 

News 2017-05-01 10:59 View：1770

On April 21st, With the reputation of “The world’s first ladder” Zhangjiajie dragon ladder realizes the quality improvement efficiency.With the 326 meters height operation, the original time is 1 minutes and 32 seconds, now just 1 minutes and 24 seconds. Although it only shortens the eight seconds, but spends nearly 150 million yuan. In order to further improve the dragon ladder tourist reception environment, based on the first successful expansion to qualitative, this year the company has the right to use three host elevator, and add the fast passage for the sick and other special groups of human nature. After this upgrade again, it not only reduces running time, but also gets a comprehensive efficiency.In recent years, With the rapid development of wulingyuan tourism industry, tourism is growing. In order to meet the need of market demand and the development of the scenic area, starting from may, 2013, as an important tourism transportation, the dragon ladder has begun implementing distribution capacity. To July 10, 2015, all three elevators transformation has completed and opened to the public. First successful expansion efficiency dragon ladder after more than a year of operation, it not only effectively alleviates the peak tourism season, but also greatly enhances the visibility of the tour vehicles for the Chinese and foreign tourists.Translated by Sophia

News 2017-04-28 16:17 View：1228

The Hunan Tourism Product & Project Promotion Conference was held in Hong Kong on April 27, 2017. Nearly 100 investors from home and abroad attended the conference. Hunan’s folk customs have left them a deep impression. Fifteen projects worth 60 billion yuan were announced that day. Projects of Xiangjiang Ancient Town Culster and Jiuguan Lake Auto Camping were among the list.Hunan Vice Governor He Baoxiang were present at the conference.“Hunan is endowed with rich tourism resources, and it has become a top tourist destination for Hong Kong people”, said a Hong Kong-based travel agency managing director. It is said that in the near future a red (revolutionary tourism) tourist travel route will be opened between Hong Kong and Hunan. The major tourists will be youngsters from Hong Kong. Through the route, they may better learn about Hunan.According to previous data released, in 2016, Hunan welcomed 565 million tourist trips, including 2.4081 million inbound tourist trips. The tourism revenue of the year was 470.743 billion yuan. During the 13th Five-year Plan period (2016-2020), Hunan plans to develop more than 150 provincial tourism projects, and build 100 national scenic areas and 35 provincial tourist resorts. All-round efforts will be made to promote all-for-one tourism, and facilitate the form of a regional tourism development pattern taking Changsha as the core, Zhangjiajie as the lead, Yueyang, Huaihua and Chenzhou as the growth poles.Translator: Xiao Juan

News 2017-04-28 16:13 View：1368

The photos taken on April 27, 2017 show starry night views over Aizhai Suspension Bridge and a winding mountain road at Aizhai Town, Jishou City, Hunan. The fine combination of the beautiful natural scenery and the magnificent artificial structure makes the night view more impressive.The bridge, about 20 kilometers away from downtown Jishou, is an important project of Jishou-Chadong Expressway. It is a single-span suspension bridge, with the main span of 1,176 meters. The construction of the bridge has greatly improved the traffic situation of Hunan and Chongqing.Translator: Xiao Juan 

News 2017-04-27 16:14 View：1395

On April 22nd, 2017 China mountain outdoor fitness leisure assembly, Huanglong hole sino-foreign parkour competition held on the single slope roof of Zhangjiajie Huanglong cave scenic spot. 17 players, in addition to domestic 15 running practitioners, and two foreign contestants parkour from Ukraine, Kazakhstan. In the end, the Chinese players He Yiyu won the first prize.Translated by Sophia

News 2017-04-26 16:15 View：1378