Tourism authorities super responsive to service issues as Harbin chill radiates
With Harbin — in northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province — as a sensational winter tourist mecca continuing to inspire admiration and emulation, many tourist destinations across the country are going out of their way to woo visitors.
In this unusual exuberance, local tourism administrations have demonstrated an unusual responsiveness to service complaints, and their zest and near-zero tolerance of misconduct in the sector suggest the current fervor, by catalyzing general improvements in tourist services, might last well into the upcoming Chinese New Year holiday.
For instance, the short video account of the Hebei Culture and Tourism Department used to go by the rather bland name of Hebei Luyou, but upon hearing online complaints that it is not an easily thought of entry on search engine, the official account quickly changed its name, sending its daily updates soaring to 70, predominantly service-related.
In Jilin Province, the local tourism authority not only renamed its social account, but has begun inviting celebrities to help promote local destinations, with a number of local tourism chiefs engaged in livestreaming promotion themselves.
The results are palpable. For instance, orders for destinations in the northeastern province rose 92 percent.
With Jilin’s Changbai Mountains, a favorite destination for skiing and sightseeing, earning rave reviews on a number of social media accounts, this winter tourist mecca is also taking a leaf from Harbin’s recent sensation. Local drivers have recently formed a Xiaojindou fleet, consisting of 150 private cars which carry tourists for free.
In the culture-heavy Henan Province, bullet-train travelers arriving at the Luoyang Railway Station are greeted by lines of majestic warriors in antiquated military pomp, attired in armor and helmets and holding spears.
In fact, visitors to some tourist destinations have a chance to enjoy a lighter moment, as they can appreciate Yuju, traditional local Henan opera, for free, with the gaudy dramatic attire forming a stark contrast to the pervading ice and snow.
Henan has also entered into a partnership with neighboring Shanxi Province whereby more than 114 Class A scenic spots promise to form an alliance that will grant free entry respectively to residents from designated cities.
In Hengdaohezi Town in Heilongjiang’s
Mudanjiang City, which is known for its snow scene and the well-preserved 256 Russian-style buildings dating back to 1902-1904, some tourists complained about a lack of toilets and poor conditions. The local tourism administration immediately ordered that all government institutions and business operators should make their toilets freely accessible to all visitors.
Recently one netizen reported having received monetary compensation of 2,400 yuan (US$340) for reporting some issues encountered while traveling in Guizhou. Although local authorities had been canvassing for such ideas with a promise of financial incentives, the netizen was still quite surprised at actually receiving the sum.
Shandong Province is also offering preferential prices to tourists who arrive by the newly opened Jinan-Zhengzhou bullet train, so that within three days of their arrival, the tourists can visit a number of scenic sites in the eastern province at preferential rates, up to 50 percent of the original price.
Elsewhere, Fujian Province has announced entry for visitors to Mount Wuyi would be free until April 30.
In the Tibet Autonomous Region, it was announced that before March 15, visits to the ancient Potala Palace will be free, though appointment would still be needed.
Recently 11 kindergarten children aged 3 to 6 from south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region also created quite a sensation on their arrival in Harbin.
Attired in orange-colored down jackets, the preschoolers were embarking on a study tour. They have been nicknamed “little sweet tangerines” by netizens, referring to Guangxi’s specialty produce favored across the country during this season.
With the kids so lionized in many of their itinerant stops, local Guangxi producers, riding the fervor, sent hundreds of tons of tangerines to the northeast for free sampling, while more than 200 scenic areas in the autonomous region launched preferential policies for tourists from the northeast.
So far so good.
If the current momentum can be sustained, its trickle-down effect on the national economy should not be underestimated.
The adroit leveraging of tourist sentiment via social platforms has an amplifying effect that’s something quite new to the new era, and this is a lesson yet to be fully learned by other government departments across the country, suggesting more potential in the exploitation of domestic consumption.
Macheng Road connects Tianmushan Road to the south and Wen’er Road to the north. The road has a more residential character than other commercially prosperous thoroughfares in Hangzhou.
Dating from the Wuyue Kingdom period (AD 907-978) when Hangzhou was made the capital, the road was home to an imperial stable that raised over 30,000 horses at the peak. Therefore, ancient people named it Macheng ( ), which literally means “horses city.”
However, the original name gradually evolved into “ ” over time, with the new meaning being “horses and footpaths between fields.”
In the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) when Hangzhou was still the capital, Macheng Road developed into a flower plantation and trading center, attracting streams of vendors and merchants every day.
Centuries ago, the road was a rendezvous for the literati, poets and scholars. For them, burning incense, drinking tea, arranging flower and painting were popular pastimes. In its prime, the vibrant flowers lured renowned scholars, including Li Qingzhao, Jiang Kui and Ye Shi, who wrote poems depicting the thriving scenes along the road.
Shanghai Daily recently paid a visit to Macheng Road and found some stores well worth a visit. Let’s check out how the road has changed over past eras.
Grandma’s Kitchen
Along the 1,370-meter-long road, the must-try restaurant is the Grandma’s Kitchen. As a famous bistro chain offering authentic Hangzhou cuisine, the brand has already opened many branches throughout the Yangtze Delta over decades.
The popularity of the Grandma’s Kitchen, attributed to its competitive prices, is also reflected in its first branch opening on Macheng Road around 2001.
Hangzhou cuisine is known for its refreshing flavors and mellow fragrances, and has a well-earned reputation in the culinary world. Most cuisine is made of everyday seasonings and ingredients, including freshly picked vegetables, local free-range poultry and freshwater fish and shrimps.
If you, like the Hangzhou natives, love noodles you can try a hearty meal at the Pine Field Noodle House.
In the Song Dynasty (960-1279), when the royal court retreated to Hangzhou, it brought the wheat food culture from north to south China. That’s why Hangzhou residents love noodles more than their other counterparts in the Yangtze Delta.
The noodle house is a delightfully decorated small restaurant serving typical Hangzhou noodles, including local specialty pian’erchuan, noodles topped with pork slices, bamboo shoots and preserved vegetables; and xiabaoshan, noodles garnished with shrimps and fried mud eel.
The owners of the Youpin Roasted Produce are a young couple. The business opened when the husband was apprenticed to a nut-frying master. With support from their family and enriched experience, their business thrived. It prospers mainly in autumn and winter.
Street-roasted nuts are a favorite winter street-snack in Hangzhou. They are roasted or fired with a mixture of seasonings. Sometimes, vendors also coat them with sugar to make them shine.
The Old Tailor Shop, hidden in an old residential building, is rather simple, but has many loyal customers.
They say owner He Shifu can solve problems other tailors cannot. He inherited the store from his father and the store has run for more than 50 years. He has altered everything from jeans and suits to leather jackets, based on his rich experience.
Aside from the tailor’s, the Fayuan Bookstore is another evergreen in Macheng Road. Wang Shaoyun has operated the store for over 30 years. It sells law books and has a group of loyal customers.
Right opposite Wang’s bookstore is the Zhejiang Province People’s High Court. Wang said he opened the bookstore after his retirement as he found a large demand for law books among legal professionals.
“Zhejiang Province has around 100 courts. They all know me,” Wang said proudly to Shanghai Daily. “I won’t shut down the bookstore until I become unable to work.”