How to Operate from Concept to Actual Operation with the 'Wannan Sichuan-Tibet Line' as a Tourism IP?

The road from Qinglong Township, Ningguo City to Taoling, Jing County along the southern bank of the Yangtze River in Anhui Province is renowned for its treacherous mountain routes and breathtaking natural scenery, earning it the nickname 'Jiangnan Sky Road.' With rugged mountains, winding paths, and hidden ancient temples and villages, it is also called the 'Southern Anhui 318 Line' or 'Wannan Sichuan-Tibet Line.' The self-driving route of the 'Wannan Sichuan-Tibet Line' has become the top self-driving route in Anhui and one of the most influential in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shanghai, and Anhui. Along this mountain road, many famous attractions can be linked, from east to west: Shankou Qidong, Enlong World Wooden House Village, Qinglong Bay National Forest Park, West Jinhe Wetland Park, China Tree Expo Park, Ten Thousand Mu Bamboo Sea, Chujiatan, Huiyun Zen Temple, Tiewa Temple, Lopseed Wetland, Pamo Primeval Forest, Shuimo Tingxi, Jiangnan First Drift, Taohuatan, and the 'Wannan Incident' Red Tourism Base.

So, how should Ningguo and Jing County divide and cooperate around the 'Wannan Sichuan-Tibet Line' as a major tourism IP? What model should be adopted to realize the transition from concept to reality, contribute to the upgrade and transformation of the service industry in both areas, and make a positive impact on the Wannan International Tourism Demonstration Zone? Let's discuss and share your views.

Originally an ordinary rural road in southern Anhui, it became famous nationwide due to the ecological environment and roadside scenery. From a rural road, it transformed into a well-known self-driving route in China, and then upgraded to a key tourism IP for the Wannan International Tourism Demonstration Zone. A tourism IP is based on core tourism resources, from which various supporting industries and related auxiliary industries develop. The most successful large tourism IP in China is probably Hangzhou's West Lake, which uses West Lake as the foundation to develop the industrial economy of the broader West Lake tourism area. When you mention Hangzhou, everyone knows West Lake, but the Greater West Lake tourism area based on the West Lake IP includes far more than just West Lake. It encompasses many related or unrelated elements, so many that no single term can summarize them.

The 'Wannan Sichuan-Tibet Line' runs from east to west, starting from Ningguo City and ending at Jing County, passing through Xuanzhou District in Xuancheng City, connecting the core tourism areas of this region. In the entire Wannan International Tourism Demonstration Zone, apart from the major IP of Mount Huangshan, the 'Wannan Sichuan-Tibet Line' is the next most important. We all know Mount Huangshan is a world-famous place, but Huangshan includes not only the mountain itself but also Taiping Lake, Jiuhua Mountain, Xidi, Hongcun, and countless other attractions, along with related transportation, hotels, restaurants, and various supporting industries. If we treat this 'Wannan Sichuan-Tibet Line' as a major tourism IP, how can we manage it to achieve both environmental protection and development, reaping economic and social benefits? This is a question worth discussing and one that deserves social attention.

If we have the concept of the 'Wannan Sichuan-Tibet Line' as a major tourism IP, it should be carefully planned and evaluated, referencing successful cases at home and abroad. Nearby Hangzhou is a great example. The industrial economy centered on West Lake as a tourism IP accounts for a large share of Hangzhou's national economy, while environmental protection has been very successful, with tourist satisfaction and social influence ranking first nationwide.

First, environmental protection must be ensured. The environment is the lifeline of tourism economic development. Without a good environment, there is no tourism economy. Second, government guidance, supervision, and management should be strengthened to prevent arbitrary environmental damage. Sacrificing unprofitable elements like ticket revenue can attract more tourists for in-depth travel, achieving secondary consumption in the tourism economy.

Infrastructure for the 'Wannan Sichuan-Tibet Line' tourism IP, which connects various rural roads, must be well established, with transportation being the most important. Repair the rural roads to facilitate self-driving tourists, and build another route connecting various attractions for non-self-driving tourists, with circular, multi-stop tourist buses between scenic spots. This bus system could reference Hangzhou's West Lake ring bus system. Another key is external transportation. Build an intercity railway along the route in Jing County, Xuanzhou, and Ningguo. In the west, Jing County can connect to the Jiuhua Mountain-Huangshan intercity railway. In the east, Ningguo can link to Anji, Huzhou, Suzhou, and Shanghai. In the south, Ningguo can connect to Lin'an, Hangzhou, Ningbo, and Wenzhou. In the north, Xuanzhou can connect to Nanjing, Zhenjiang, Yangzhou, Qingdao, and Hefei. This perfectly integrates the Wannan Sichuan-Tibet Line tourism IP with the Mount Huangshan tourism IP, forming a true Wannan International Tourism Zone, expanding to Chizhou, Anqing, Wuhu, Nanjing, Wuxi, Hangzhou, Huzhou, Suzhou, and Shanghai, upgrading it to a major tourism IP in the Yangtze River Delta region. Therefore, I suggest that the Yangtze River Delta railway network could include high-speed railways: Shanghai-Suzhou-Huzhou-Anji-Ningguo-Jing County-Jiuhua Mountain-Huangshan-Chizhou, Nanjing-Xuancheng-Ningguo-Lin'an-Hangzhou, and Hefei-Wuhu-Xuancheng-Ningguo-Hangzhou-Jinhua intercity railways. Among these suggested high-speed lines, once the network is connected and densified, they can basically be realized. The Shanghai-Huzhou high-speed railway (Shanghai-Huzhou intercity) is already under construction; it just needs to be extended from Huzhou to Anji to connect to Ningguo, and then build the Ningguo-Jing County intercity railway. The Nanjing-Xuancheng and Nanjing-Xuancheng-Ningguo high-speed railways (Ningxuan and Xuanji) are under construction or about to start, and the Hefei-Ningguo intercity railway was already included in the Wanjiang Railway Network in the 12th Five-Year Plan; we only need to build the Ningguo-Lin'an intercity high-speed railway. Infrastructure construction is crucial; this is an important part of the Wannan Sichuan-Tibet Line tourism IP.

Regarding tickets, I personally think we should give them up as much as possible. Compare Lijiang in Yunnan, which charges tickets everywhere, with Hangzhou, where most scenic spots are free—the economic gap proves the point. Sacrificing ticket revenue can generate income from other areas, making free a development model. This is a topic the Wannan Sichuan-Tibet Line tourism IP needs to study carefully.

Improve supporting facilities along the route, such as high-end resorts and star-rated hotels instead of ordinary inns and small guesthouses. Encourage local farmers to develop agritainment to add fun activities. High-end hotels and resorts will attract high-spending tourists, indirectly promoting the transformation and development of the tertiary industry. Also, open restaurants with local characteristics so that visitors can relax and enjoy indigenous cuisine, boosting the catering industry.

If tourists depart from Shanghai or Suzhou heading to Mount Huangshan or Jiuhua Mountain, they can take the high-speed train to Ningguo, rest, and visit the scenic spots along the Wannan Sichuan-Tibet Line. This way, they won't be rushed or tired but will enjoy beautiful scenery and delicious food along the way. Then continue to Jiuhua Mountain and Mount Huangshan. This golden route would certainly be popular. What do you think? Finally, how do you think the 'Wannan Sichuan-Tibet Line' tourism IP should be planned and operated to transition from concept to reality?