With the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holiday approaching, Beijing has launched a series of history- and culture-themed night tour programs to welcome tourists from across the country and abroad.
A Mid-Autumn cultural festival kicked off on Friday evening near the Lugou Bridge, also known as Marco Polo Bridge, with creative dance performances, situation dramas, and classic poetry readings igniting the audience's enthusiasm.
Along a street stretching over 600 meters, more than 100 booths featuring intangible cultural heritage handicrafts, distinctive cultural and creative products, and time-honored local foods were set up, attracting large crowds of tourists eager to shop and explore.
Additionally, the wall of Wanping Town in Beijing officially opened to the public on Saturday. During the holiday, festival organizers will launch 12 special activities centered around this ancient site, inviting both residents and tourists to celebrate the festivals together.
"The cultural activities we planned in Lugou Bridge and Wanping Town integrate various forms such as classic poetry readings, light shows, art exhibitions, intangible cultural heritage experiences, and folk performances. We have presented an integrated holiday feast combining culture, commerce, tourism, and sports for the general public, aiming to boost nighttime cultural and tourism consumption," said Wang Fuqiang, deputy head of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Committee of Fengtai District.
In Beijing's Changping District, the Juyongguan Great Wall Scenic Area has already launched its night tour program, welcoming an early surge of visitors ahead of the holiday.
"I want my child to experience this lively atmosphere, and also the magnificence of our Juyongguan Great Wall -- the feeling when all the lights are lit up. It's brighter here, and we are very happy to be here," Zhang Tingting, a tourist, said.
This year, the Juyongguan Great Wall night tour project has been fully upgraded, with famous scenic spots such as the North Gate Tower, JuYong DieCui, and the Juyongguan Sea of Flowers presented through light-based art installations, enhancing the festive atmosphere of the scenic area.
"We want to provide visitors with a joyous, peaceful, and lively experience. The Juyongguan scenic area has also enhanced its capacity to receive guests. For example, we’ve assigned more staff to manage parking in an orderly way. We have also extended our operating hours to make night tours of the Great Wall more convenient for visitors,” said Yang Zihao, marketing manager of the Juyongguan Great Wall Scenic Area.
Beijing braces for travel surge as National Day, Mid-Autumn Festival draw near
