'Extremely beautiful and incredibly close': Chongqing launches inclusive tour season

Chongqing – Have you ever watched the film "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" starring Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock? Well, this winter-spring tour season for locals and those who have to stay put in the municipality during the Spring Festival holiday has nothing to do with the film. However, you still wouldn't want to miss it for the world, because this is definitely one of those "once-in-a-lifetime" opportunities.

According to an official with the Municipal Culture and Tourism Development Commission, the peripheral counties and districts of Chongqing, especially those in the northeastern and southeastern areas, are to launch various tour season activities and events for Chongqing locals, expats, and those from other places yet choose to spend the Spring Festival holiday within the municipality. The move is part of efforts to respond to the nationwide anti-epidemic campaign of asking citizens to stay put during what could've become the "world's largest human migration" period, or Chunyun.

The "extremely beautiful and incredibly close" themed tour season will last from February to May this year, including a major sub-event called "spending the lunar new year of folk cultures in southeast Chongqing," and coinciding with the ongoing "Daka Bayu 50 Sceneries" all media tour promotion event.

The southeastern counties and districts of Wulong, Pengshui, Qianjiang, Youyang, Xiushan, and Shizhu are hailed as "China's First Tourism Corridor Area" for the unique Tujia and Miao ethnic cultures and the ecological tourism belt in the Wuling Mountain area. "There are one world natural heritage site, four national AAAAA level scenic areas, and 24 national AAAA level scenic areas," said Su Huiyong, vice mayor of Wulong District.

"During the holiday tour season, Wulong's Furong Cave scenic spot will waive all entrance fees, Qianjiang's Zhuoshui and Urban Grand Valley scenic spots will offer 50% discount. Xiushan's Chuanhegai Cableway scenic spot will offer a 'buy five get one free' discount for entrance fees, Youyang's Peach Blossom Valley will offer a 20% discount for entrance fees, and Shizhu's Xituo Ancient Town scenic spot will also waive all entrance fees."

What's more, Nanchuan's Jinfo Mountain scenic spot, Yongchuan's Leheledu scenic spot, Qijiang's Laoying Mountain scenic spot, Wansheng's Black Mountain Valley, Fengdu's Dakini Mountain Ski Resort, Wanzhou's Qifang Flower Valley, Yubei's Tongjing Hot Spring scenic spot, and Jiangjin's Simian Mountain Scenic spot have all offer discounts to local citizens, expats, and visitors from certain provinces and cities.

It's worth noting that most of those preferential policies during the "extremely beautiful and incredible close" themed tour season require visitors to go through a real-name verification and health code checking process. So, please don't forget to bring your ID or passport with you and always remember to wear a mask, especially when visiting places of frequent customer flow.