Sichuan Province of southwest China is attracting domestic and global visitors especially following its first snowfall, thanks to government initiatives and advanced local infrastructure.
To further promote Sichuan's winter tourism, the provincial government launched a four-month campaign on Saturday at the UNESCO World Heritage site Jiuzhaigou.
With the campaign offering free scenic spot tickets, subsidies for travelers and a newly opened high-speed rail connecting Jiuzhaigou and regional centers such as Chengdu City and Chongqing Municipality, tourists from home and abroad can enjoy a convenient, comfortable, and money-saving trip to savor the unique winter scenes in Sichuan.
"I think Sichuan is a really nice province. It has so much to offer to people, for tourists. I came by the high speed rail. I came here with my parents over 10 years ago. So it's a huge improvement, it's a big change. You can also fly here, but yeah, infrastructure seems amazing," said Dieter, a Belgian tourist.
Beyond natural beauty, local authorities are leveraging Sichuan's rich cultural resources, given that it is among the most ethnically diverse provinces in the country. Governments and scenery spots have also introduced multiple activities to provide tourists with a chance to experience the local culture.
"It's very exciting. It's the first time to come here. For me this place is a must see because the scenery is beautiful. And I'm also very excited about the minority's culture. For the first time I tried to dance with them. I think this is an added value for China tourism. As foreigners, we can also experience this minority culture like dancing, the food, and so on," said Nino, a tourist from Italy.
Winter tourism in Sichuan attracts global visitors
Winter tourism in Sichuan attracts global visitors
An increasing number of German consumers are considering buying electric vehicles (EVs) in the face of high fuel prices, according to a recent survey by the largest German online car trading platform, mobile.de.
As the Middle East tensions continue to drive up international oil and gas prices, the cost of automotive fuel has been rising steadily in many European countries.
According to fuel price data compiled by the German Association of the Automotive Industry, since the United States and Israel launched military strikes against Iran on February 28, gasoline prices in Germany have risen by nearly 20 percent, while diesel prices have shot up by more than 30 percent.
Results from a recent survey by mobile.de show that if gasoline prices remain at current high levels, 43 percent of respondents said they would switch to EVs, and 36 percent cited long-term cost savings as the most important reason for considering an EV purchase.
Additionally, the platform's data show that inquiries about used EVs surged by 66 percent in the first half of March.
"We are absolutely seeing much more interest on mobile.de for electric cars. What the German energy transition couldn't do, this current geopolitical situation has done in terms of transition to electric cars," said Ajay Bhatia, CEO of mobile.de.
In addition to high oil prices, government subsidies are also a key factor driving German consumers to consider purchasing EVs.
The German government announced the resumption of subsidies in January of this year, planning to invest 3 billion euros over the next few years to provide purchase subsidies for some 800,000 EVs.
Driven by the combined effects of high oil prices and subsidy policies, German consumers' interest in EVs has grown clearly. However, it remains to be seen whether this shift will evolve into a more sustained market trend.
"How long it will stay is anyone's guess, but at the moment we're absolutely seeing an increase, and sometimes these transitions need a catalyst. And this is definitely a catalyst that is seeing the transition to electric cars speed up," said Bhatia.
More Germans interested in buying EVs due to high oil prices: survey
