On April 14, a "Hefei Journey" spanning thousands of miles romantically commenced on the shores of Hong Kong. The "Meet in Hefei, Wonderful Encounter" 2025 Hefei Culture and Tourism Promotion Event in Hong Kong, hosted by the Hefei Municipal People's Government and organized by the Hefei Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, was officially launched. The Hefei Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism led a cultural and tourism delegation, comprising key cultural and tourism enterprises, representative inheritors of intangible cultural heritage, and others, to comprehensively showcase the beauty of Hefei's landscapes, the charm of its culture, and the brilliance of its technological innovation to all sectors of Hong Kong.

Representatives from Hong Kong's political, business, cultural, and tourism sectors, along with well-known enterprises, travel agencies, and media representatives, gathered to celebrate this occasion and jointly chart a new blueprint for the integrated development of culture and tourism between the two places.

"Although Hefei and Hong Kong are thousands of miles apart, they have always been closely connected, sharing an open and inclusive economic and cultural atmosphere. We hope to use this promotion as an opportunity to deepen policy coordination, resource sharing, and market collaboration, and jointly promote Hefei-Hong Kong cultural and tourism cooperation to a higher level," said one representative leader in her speech. "We sincerely invite our Hong Kong compatriots to visit this city that combines technological vitality and cultural heritage, to experience the poetic charm of its scenery, the long-standing and profound culture, and the vibrant pulse of technological innovation."

Xin Congjin, Chairman of the Hong Kong Association of China Travel Organisers Limited, particularly praised Hefei in his speech, stating, "Hefei boasts a long-standing historical and cultural heritage and strong technological innovation capabilities. Hong Kong and Hefei have highly complementary cultural and tourism resources and broad space for cooperation. We look forward to deepening the linkage between the cultural and tourism industries of the two places through this event and jointly exploring market opportunities."

Hefei is where northern and southern cultures converge, and where natural landscapes and humanistic heritage flourish. With its modern technological innovation and diverse tourism offerings, the city presents a vibrant tapestry. The principal official of the Hefei Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism delivered a promotion of Hefei's cultural and tourism resources, deeply integrating elements of history, intangible cultural heritage, technology, landscapes, and consumption trends. From three key dimensions—scientific innovation vitality, historical depth, and scenic charm—the presentation decoded Hefei's cultural and tourism development potential, outlined its diverse landscape, and showcased its unique appeal.

Towards the end of the promotion, key official representatives reiterated Hefei's sincerity, extending a heartfelt invitation to Hong Kong residents and tourists to visit Hefei and experience its urban charm and cultural tourism lifestyle, where "tradition and modernity intertwine, and antiquity and innovation coexist."

The promotion event showcased Hefei's urban charm through dual perspectives of "technology + humanity." During the event, the representative of Anhui Qingsong Study Tour Culture Technology Co., Ltd. delivered a promotion of study tour products, providing a systematic introduction to relevant study tour resources and service support.

The promotion event also featured special guest speakers, Wu Qiaoling, Deputy General Manager of China Travel Service (Hong Kong) Limited, and Cao Rui, Technical Director of the Hong Kong Productivity Council, who shared their personal experiences to illustrate "Hefei through the Eyes of Hong Kong People."

A dedicated immersive experience zone was set up at the venue, allowing guests to encounter different scenes with every step. A landscape photography exhibition unfolded Hefei's picturesque scenery through captivating lenses. The intangible cultural heritage section brought together provincial-level heritage items such as Luzhou Taijiquan, Huibang Tailoring Techniques, Luzhou Dough Sculpture, Luyang Paper-Cutting, and Wu Shan Iron Calligraphy. The cultural and creative products area displayed innovative achievements including Bao Gong IP derivatives, Hefei City Memory Museum cultural creations, iFLYTEK and Royalstar smart devices. Meanwhile, the food zone filled the air with the authentic aromas of local delicacies like Lujiang Baiyun Spring Tea, Feixi Lotus Flower Tea, Wang Renhe Rice Noodles, Qiaqia Sunflower Seeds, Hefei's Four Famous Pastries, and Zhanji Pastries, attracting guests to stop, sample, and praise the offerings enthusiastically.

The event unfolded through an "One City, One Harbor, One Stage" narrative, facilitating artistic dialogue and presenting a cultural feast. Ni Shiqing, a provincial-level intangible cultural heritage inheritor of Anhui, performed Luzhou Taijiquan, demonstrating a harmonious blend of strength and grace. The national-level intangible cultural heritage piece, the Lu Opera "Viewing the Painting," captivated the audience with its melodious tunes and elegant Anhui style, while the Chaohu Lake folk song "Rolling Green Waves Coming Towards Us" vividly depicted a scene of happiness by the lakeshore. The atmosphere reached its peak during three rounds of the "Gifts from Hefei" lucky draw, where premier tourism packages were awarded, including round-trip air tickets between the two cities, stays at high-end hotels, and experiences at characteristic homestays, providing warm and thoughtful services for Hong Kong residents planning to visit Hefei.

The Hong Kong Association of China Travel Organisers Limited, the Hefei Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, and representatives of cultural and tourism enterprises from both cities reached strategic cooperation agreements and signed contracts. These agreements cover areas such as tourist source development, product research and development, and study tour cooperation, injecting new momentum into the cultural and tourism markets of both regions.

Looking ahead, Hefei will leverage the Yangtze River Delta integration strategy to continuously optimize the supply of cultural and tourism products. It will strengthen cooperation with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in resource integration, route connectivity, and marketing promotion, jointly composing a new chapter of high-quality development in culture and tourism.

The promotion event concluded in a warm and enthusiastic atmosphere, marking the entry of Hefei-Hong Kong cultural and tourism cooperation into a new stage.

Source: anhuinews.com