2025.12.12
QUANZHOU, Dec. 11 — The 2025 Maritime Silk Road International Cultural Tourism Festival opened today. The event is jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the People’s Government of Fujian Province, and hosted by the Fujian Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism together with the Quanzhou Municipal People’s Government. Senior officials including LU Yingchuan, Vice Minister of Culture and Tourism and a member of the Party Leadership Group, and LI Xinghu, Vice Governor of Fujian Province, attended and addressed the opening ceremony. Mr. ZHENG Hao, Vice Chair and Secretary-General of the World Tourism Alliance (WTA), was present at the launch.
At the opening ceremony, key initiatives were launched, including Fujian Province’s inbound tourism policies, premium tour routes showcasing Maritime Silk Road and Southern Fujian (Minnan) culture, and an official inbound tourism guide. The "Sailing Initiative for International Travel Agents from 100 Silk Road Cities" was officially rolled out, several cultural and tourism cooperation projects were signed on the spot, and a cohort of individuals were appointed as Quanzhou Cultural Tourism Promoters. Following the ceremony, an "Intangible Cultural Heritage Fashion Show" themed "World Heritage in Splendor, Shared with the World" captivated the audience. The show presented a fashion dialogue bridging past and present, blending Eastern and Western aesthetics, and celebrating the shared beauty of civilizations.
The Fujian Tourism EXPO 2025, a central event of the festival, opened on the morning of December 12 in Nan’an. The launch ceremony was addressed by several dignitaries, including YUAN Yi, Vice Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the Fujian Provincial People’s Congress and a member of the Party Leadership Group; WANG Xiaofeng, President of the China Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Association (CICHPA); Mr. ZHENG Hao, Vice Chair and Secretary-General of the World Tourism Alliance (WTA); and XIU Xinggao, Party Committee Secretary and Chairman of the Fujian Tourism Development Group.
In his address, ZHENG Hao highlighted Fujian’s tourism achievements, noting its dynamic innovation and resilient growth in recent years. "Fujian masterfully intertwines its rich Min-style culture with spectacular natural scenery", he stated. As a national leader in World Heritage, the province excels at bringing intangible cultural heritage to life in contemporary settings. He illustrated that elements like the melodies of Minnan folk music, the fragrance of local tea, and the intricate "Zanhuawei" hair ornament have become iconic attractions, giving tangible form to culture and a soul to tourism. He reaffirmed the WTA’s commitment to actively leveraging its resource and platform strengths to support the high-quality, international development of Fujian’s tourism sector, turning the vision of "Enjoying Fujian through Win-Win Cooperation" into tangible developmental outcomes.
