Laibin: a tourist heaven in Guangxi

Laibin municipal government holds a press conference on tourism development in Nanning on July 3. [Photo by Yang Zhixiong/chinanews.com]

Laibin city, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region held a press conference on tourism development in Nanning on July 3, showcasing the great achievements in tourism industry in recent years.

Laibin attaches great importance to the development of tourism and adheres to the concept of green development to create China Natural Oxygen Bar and Summer Resort in western China.

At present, there are 26 A-level scenic spots in Laibin, including seven national 4A-level scenic spots and 18 3A-level scenic spots. There are five autonomous region-level ecotourism demonstration zones. The city has 16 star-rated hotels, 22 star-rated rural tourist areas, and 112 star-rated farmhouses, including 11 rural tourist areas and nine farmhouses. In total, 54 tourist houses in the city have more than 1,000 beds.

The most distinctive feature of Laibin and Guangxi is the ecotourism resources of Jinxiu Yao autonomous county in the eastern part of Laibin. The forest coverage rate there is as high as 86.67 percent, ranking first in Guangxi. It has the largest water source protection area in the Pearl River Basin with an area of more than 1.5 million hectares and the second largest species gene bank in China after Xishuangbanna.

Laibin is enclave of Yao and Zhuang ethnic groups, forming a situation in which the Yao culture and the Zhuang culture complement each other. In order to protect and inherit the cultural treasures of Zhuang and Yao ethnic groups and bring the cultural charm of ethnic minorities to tourists, the city carries out many folk festivals and events throughout the year, such as the famous Sanyuesan Festival of Zhuang ethnic group and Panwang Festival of Yao ethnic group.

Li Zhenpin, deputy mayor of Laibin, said at the press conference that Laibin has issued a number of preferential policies to develop tourism. Tourists from Guangdong province can enjoy a onetime half-price ticket of scenic spots in Laibin. Tourists from 13 provinces in north China will be given concessions in winter in terms of tickets, tourist hotels, charter flights, self-driving trips, and so on. Moreover, Guangxi tourists also get a discount policy during summer vocation.

In addition, Laibin city also launched an intelligent tourism platform to provide tourists with convenient services.

Li Zhenpin, deputy mayor of Laibin, speaks at the press conference. [Photo by Yang Zhixiong/chinanews.com]

Beautiful view of Jinxiu Yao autonomous county [Photo by Jin Xiuxuan/gxchinanews.com]