Mudanjiang aspires to be summer spot
The picturesque scenery of Wuhua Mountain in autumn and the peculiar tradition of ice fishing in winter are among attractions that have sparked a boom in tourism for Mudanjiang, a city in the southeastern part of Heilongjiang.
Local authorities aim to expand the city’s appeal past the seasons of winter and fall by promoting it as a holiday resort in the summer, which is traditionally the busy season for tourism.
They plan to draw a combined investment of 2.06 billion yuan ($ 336 million) to fund tourism projects, an increase of 20 percent from 2012.
Of them, four major existing scenic sites — Jingpo Town, Lotus Town, Hengdao Tourist Town and Yilong Cultural Park — are awaiting investors for a revamp.
Jingpo Town needs an investment of 700 million yuan for tour estate, tourism products, infrastructure construction, afforestation and sewage treatment.
Lotus Town needs 100 million yuan to develop real estate, villas, starred hotels and eco-friendly residences.
For Hengdao, a centuryold town with an assortment of Russian-style buildings, at least 60 million yuan investment is needed to renovate historical locomotives and their sheds, build exhibition halls and theme parks, add a plaza and roads, and preserve historic artifact.
And Yilong Cultural Park requires 30 million yuan investment for building water treatment facilities, a swimming pool, multiple-use buildings, 13 villas and a 30,000square-meter parking lot.
Through attracting investment to the tourism projects, the authorities are hoping to promote local towns of Jingpo, Lotus, Hailin Farm, Hengdao, Bohai and Sandaofu.
Also, Mudanjiang’s rural tourism highlights agricultural sightseeing, specialty catering, forest ecology and farming experience.
These leisure scenic spots are increasingly popular. As a result, the investment inflow into leisure facilities at scenic sites is on the rise.
And some innovative projects have emerged, combining scenery, accommodation, entertainment and performance together.
Tourism is trending toward greater interactivity, said an official of the Mudanjiang Tourism Bureau.
This new style of tourism has filled the consumption gap and helped visitors to find a quiet place in the hustle and bustle of the city, the official said.
At the same time, the importation of modern management and technology will also create substantial value for the tourism industry and boost the manorial economy, said travel analysts.
Travelers may face “aesthetic fatigue” at some traditional tourist destinations. The construction of featured tourism projects in Mudanjiang provides them a new image and experience, local officials said.
The construction of featured projects will play a huge role in tapping into tourism potential in the future, they added. Dong Wenya contributed to this story.