Baoding City works its way to become hot destination for mini vacation

Baoding City in north China's Hebei Province has gained increasing popularity as a hot touristic destination by creating innovative tourist offers  and improving services.

On weekends, residents of Beijing and Tianjin can easily take on a high-speed rail ride and travel to the neighboring Hebei Province. Baoding is one of the hottest destination for this type of mini vacation for its delicious food and rich culture.

"You must try Baoding's famous Lyurou Huoshao (or donkey burger) when travelling here. So for today's first formal meal, we choose to taste it, which is also intangible cultural heritage," said a tourist from Tianjin.

In Baoding, the IP of "Lyurou Huoshao" is deeply implanted in every corner of the city. Themed cultural and creative products are available everywhere, and creative sales methods also maximize the emotional value for young tourists.

As the main force of tourism consumption, young groups like fragmented novel experiences. Some scenic spots accordingly have taken the initiative to create more new business models and new immersive experience for visitors.

The theater in the Huaijun Gongsuo (Huai Army Office) Museum is the largest existing indoor theater in China from the Qing Dynasty (1644–1911) and now hosts opera performance regularly.

"We have established a digital museum and applied a smart guide system, which is more convenient for young people to visit this museum in a way that they like," said Du Airong, deputy director of the museum.

To continuously attract tourists and get repeat visitors, Baoding has stepped up efforts to comprehensively improve tourism services and standardize market order.

"In 2024, Baoding received about 120 million domestic and foreign tourists. The cultural tourism sector in Baoding has taken its first step in transformation, from the traditional tourism relying on ticket sales to tourism experience based on diversified scenarios," said Duan Xiaozhou, deputy director of the Baoding Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Film and Tourism.

Baoding City works its way to become hot destination for mini vacation

European Union (EU) countries gave final approval on Thursday to an amendment of the European Climate Law, setting a binding intermediate target to cut the bloc's net greenhouse gas emissions by 90 percent by 2040 compared with 1990 levels, reinforcing the EU's path toward climate neutrality by 2050.

Under the amended law, from 2036 EU member states will be allowed to count "high-quality international credits" towards meeting the 2040 target, capped at 5 percent of the EU's 1990 net emissions. This means at least 85 percent of the emissions reductions must be achieved within the bloc, the Council of the EU said in a statement.

The credits must be based on credible greenhouse gas reduction activities in partner countries and be aligned with the Paris Agreement, the statement added.

The amended law also delays the launch of the EU's emissions trading system covering road transport, buildings and other sectors, shifting its start date from 2027 to 2028.

The adoption of the amendment marks the final step in the legislative process. The amended regulation will enter into force 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU and will apply directly across all EU member states.

The European Climate Law was first adopted in 2021, setting a legally binding target of climate neutrality by 2050 and a 2030 goal to cut net emissions by at least 55 percent from 1990 levels.

EU countries approves 2040 target to cut net emissions by 90 pct