Wudang's tourist economy gains development

The Xuan Wu statue from the Wudang Mountains in Hubei province visits Taiwan to promote communication between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan. [Photo/wudangshan.gov.cn]

Wudang's tourist economy has made significant development in 2014. A total of 5.7 million tourists at home and abroad visited the Wudang Mountains in Shiyan, Hubei province, in 2014, an increase of 16 percent over the same period. Tourist revenue reached 3.1 billion yuan ($498 million), an increase of 19 percent over the same period.

A Wudang kung fu group gives a performance in Cape Town, South Africa, to cheer for the Volvo Ocean Race. [Photo/wudangshan.gov.cn]

By hosting a tour of Xuan Wu's statue in Taiwan and launching special tourism trains for Beijing tourists, Wudang popularized its brand and expanded its tourist market.

In addition, Wudang focuses on improving the tourist management service. Wudang has finished the construction of tourist infrastructure, including the park's greening and refuse transfer station, and has accelerated the construction of extension projects. By enhancing the management of the scenic spot's order, implementing security measures and increasing emergency processing ability, Wudang protects the rights of the scenic spot's shoppers and tourists and promotes the order processing of the scenic spot's operation.

Furthermore, Wudang keeps protecting natural, cultural and historic resources. It has finished compiling the Overall Planning on the Protection of Wudang Mountains Ancient Architecture, restored over 80 ancient buildings, and passed the supervision of the World Cultural Heritage Center of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization. To popularize Wudang martial arts, Wudang has set up the Wudang Mountains International Martial Arts Institute and its branch in the Nanjing Tech University Pujiang Institute, where martial arts has become a compulsory course.

Contributed by Wang Liang and Jiang Yuanbo from Wudang Mountains Tourism Bureau