Old Is Gold
Zhengding hits the tourism jackpot with its historical architecture and culture
During autumn nights, it’s common to see strollers walking appreciatively on the town wall in Zhengding, an ancient county in north China’s Hebei Province. The wall is one of the few remaining segments of the ancient fortification built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and preserved to the present day. Standing on it, visitors can see four old pagodas lined up from south to north, forming a spectacular sight. The wall and other ancient monuments have brought new opportunities for the local tourism industry amid the Central Government’s initiative to develop all-region tourism, in which an entire region is developed as a tourist destination.
Zhengding has a rich history as it survived nine dynasties without any interruption, enabling it to possess a great variety of cultural artifacts. History and culture are at the heart of Zhengding’s tourism industry. The county has always sought to restore its ancient town and preserve cultural artifacts, using its legacy to develop tourism.
The local government has been preserving and restoring old monuments in recent years and repairing the ancient town wall was a key project. The government restored the southern gate of the town and 5.2 km of the wall, also building relic parks and installing lights on a stretch of the wall. The project cost 230 million yuan ($33 million).
Blockbuster destination
In 2017, Zhengding adopted a plan for its development as well as the restoration of its old town. The plan details 25 projects, of which 20 have been completed and opened to the public. They include renovation of the surrounding