Written by Wang Jingyue
This winter, Harbin in Northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province has just become a hot topic on the internet as it gained great fame as a tourist spot.
According to statistics released by the Big Data Research Institute, part of the Chinese technology company Sina, information on tourism in Harbin began to increase rapidly in late December last year. The total number of information on the internet exceeded 10 million, an increase of four times compared to the previous year.
A video introducing Harbin’s features was spammed on social media pages. They lead reindeer along the road wearing traditional hats made from the fur of Siberian roe deer, the Orochon people, plump arctic foxes curling obediently in the arms of tourists, squinting their eyes; And delicious frozen pear slices and an artificial moon floating above St. Sophia’s Cathedral…
Boosted by social media buzz, Harbin’s offline tourism has flourished as well. According to a big data analysis by the Harbin City Culture and Tourism Bureau, the city welcomed more than 3 million tourists during the three days of the Spring Festival, and the tourism revenue was 5.9 billion yuan ($821.11 million), 4.4 times that of the previous year. It reached 7.9 times. Each figure is for the same period last year. During the Spring Festival, more than 10 million tourists visited Harbin, and tourism revenue reached 16.42 billion yuan, both of which were record highs for the city.
Harbin’s popularity is reminiscent of other Chinese cities that once achieved internet stardom, such as Chongqing, Changsha in Hunan province, Zibo city in Shandong province, and Litang in Sichuan province.
Despite their unique characteristics and diverse styles, these cities have attracted many tourists with their diverse urban landscapes.
According to Wang Xin, vice dean of the National Institute of Advertising, Propaganda University of China, cities discover and expand unique spatial and cultural activities based on the existing perceptions of urban culture held by residents and visitors. By doing so, it is possible to develop symbolic cultural concepts. These cultural concepts were then widely disseminated through social media, capturing the attention of those not present and giving first-hand experience to those present.
For example, people who are not in Harbin can view Harbin’s tourist attractions online, and tourists visiting Harbin can share their first-hand experiences by posting photos on social media and other sites. This process will exponentially attract more tourists, who will voluntarily participate in the promotion of the “Internet Famous City”.
How do “Internet Famous Cities” attract more tourists? They’ve mastered the art.
Quanzhou City in Southeast China’s Fujian Province, the starting point of the ancient Maritime Silk Road, takes advantage of its rich resources of intangible cultural heritage to allow visitors to not only watch local marionette shows but also play marionettes. We have started an experiential activity to encourage people to try operating it themselves.
Additionally, the city opened a night market, increased nightly performances by local theater companies, and expanded nighttime sightseeing options for visitors.
Dalibai Autonomous Prefecture in southwestern China’s Yunnan Province is currently a popular tourist destination on the internet, and is currently developing an urban culture centered around coffee. Nowadays, tourists visiting Dali can not only admire the scenic Cangshan Mountains and Erhai Lake, but also taste various types of coffee and feel the charm of the “coffee capital”.
For cities that have become internet famous through TV dramas and movies, relevant governments are taking creative approaches to blending city characteristics with filming locations.
For example, the web series “The Bad Kids” was filmed on Chihkan Old Street in Zhanjiang City, Guangdong Province. After it became a sensation, the local government brought in history and culture experts to train a volunteer service team so they could share the old street’s rich history and cultural heritage with visitors.
Whatever the factors that propel a city to internet stardom, it’s clear that all ‘internet famous cities’ are trying to integrate culture and tourism. This gives tourists more information than just “buzzwords” and “catchphrases” and leaves them with deeper and more lasting memories.
How to convert online data traffic into long-term popularity and sustainable development is a question that all Internet famous cities are grappling with. Experts suggest that for cities to thrive in tourism, it is most important to adhere to a tourist-centric philosophy. Providing comprehensive and thoughtful public services is key to retaining visitors.
“Service awareness is something that is cultivated over the long term,” said Liu Simin, vice president of the tourism branch of the China Futures Society. While short-term, focused efforts to improve services for tourists can provide temporary relief during the peak tourist season, Internet Famous Cities is experiencing poor tourism overall. Long-term popularity can only be maintained by establishing a guest-friendly environment and continually enhancing supporting amenities and services. public service.
Culture is the soul of a city. “When online fame becomes a thing of the past, cities must focus on local culture and residents to maintain tourist inflows and maintain lasting appeal. This is because it is an element that cannot be done,” said Huang Zhuowei, an associate professor at the same graduate school. Sun Yat-sen University Tourism Management. He added that it is important to develop attractions that are fringe or not influenced by online trends.
