China's national trend of integrating culture and tourism has become a powerful magnet for both the domestic market and international visitors in recent years. From unique folk performances to traditional lantern shows, cultural tourism has emerged as a vital conduit for showcasing the nation's rich heritage.

Nestled in northern China, Shanxi province stands as one of the cradles of Chinese civilization. With over 50,000 immovable cultural relics, 531 sites under State protection, and several UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as the Yungang Grottoes, Pingyao Ancient City, Mount Wutai and Shanxi section of the Great Wall, the province boasts unparalleled cultural wealth.

During this year's National People's Congress, Tang Dengjie, NPC deputy and secretary of the Shanxi Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, emphasized the province's commitment to preserving its cultural heritage while enhancing its modern tourism infrastructure. He said Shanxi will enrich the supply of high-quality tourism products and accelerate the development of the cultural and tourism industry into a pillar industry, a people's livelihood industry and a happiness industry.

During the Spring Festival holiday, Shanxi was a hot draw for tourists celebrating the Year of the Horse. Datong city, with its rich cultural heritage and festive traditions, has emerged as one of the top destinations, ranking first in the country for growth in international tourism during the holiday season.

Visitors to Datong were captivated by the city's cultural depth, brought to life through stunning light shows.

Li Ran, from Hangzhou in Zhejiang province, was among those enchanted by the spectacle. For three consecutive years, he has returned to Datong to witness the grand lantern displays.

This year's Datong Ancient Capital Lantern Festival featured 46 sets of large and medium-sized lanterns, creating an immersive "light experience and consumption" journey. A highlight was the illumination of the 7.24-kilometer ancient city wall, which looked like a dragon winding its way on the landscape.

Hao Jieyu, an 18-year-old college student returning home for the holiday, joined a yangko dance troupe."After a few rehearsals it became incredibly fun. It made my holiday fulfilling and meaningful, while also promoting our traditional culture," she said.

Local delicacies like Shanxi knife-cut noodles were a hit.

Yu Zhandong, a 32-year-old Datong native, roamed the ancient city streets, capturing the vibrant performances and dazzling fireworks with his camera.

The relaxed restrictions on fireworks reignited the festive spirit, bringing warmth and excitement back to the celebrations.

"After years of restrictions, the return of fireworks has brought back the irreplaceable joy and warmth of the New Year," Yu said."The policy cleverly balances tradition, safety and environmental concerns." Formerly focused solely on landscape photography, Yu now plans to capture the essence of Shanxi's ancient architecture and cultural traditions. "I want to document not only fireworks, but paper-cutting, dragon dances and temple fairs," he said. "I hope to preserve these ancient traditions and their modern transformations for future generations."

Ahead of the holiday, over 20 international students from countries such as Pakistan, Afghanistan and Cameroon visited the ancient city of Xinzhou, immersing themselves in the unique charm of Chinese New Year.

Onguene Lionel Serge, a student from Cameroon, told China Daily:"This experience was amazing, and I received many gifts. I can't wait to share this precious memory with my family back home."

The students engaged in traditional crafts such as paper-cutting, creating auspicious horse-themed patterns, and joined locals in celebrating with music and dance.

"This is my second year in China, and the people here are incredibly kind," said Mohammad Zarif Sadiqi, an Afghan student. "Celebrating the Chinese New Year in Shanxi's ancient city was breathtaking. Despite the cold weather, the warmth of the people made my heart feel at home."

In addition to the festive atmosphere, the preservation and revitalization of intangible cultural heritage have become key attractions in Shanxi's tourism landscape.

In Taiyuan, the capital city, Liujiabu village in Xiaodian district has been transformed from an obscure "hollow village" into a renowned cultural destination by developing its intangible cultural heritage industry.

Wu Lijun, director of the reception center, said the village now hosts over 100 representative intangible cultural heritage projects and numerous traditional craft workshops.

Contact the writers at zhuxingxin@chinadaily.com.cn