An ancient Chinese city is attracting holiday travellers with a blend of historic waterways, traditional crafts and modern cultural performances as China’s National Day holiday brings a surge in domestic tourism.
Liyang City, a cultural tourism area in Xun County in central China’s Henan province, is showcasing its centuries-old heritage through a programme designed to give visitors a slower, more immersive experience during the week-long holiday. The area is built around the historic Xun County section of the Grand Canal and the Liyang Warehouse, both connected to the region’s long history as a centre of transport and commerce.
The destination is combining its historical character with contemporary attractions. During the holiday, visitors can watch outdoor performances inspired by local traditions, explore cultural spaces and take part in experiences linked to traditional crafts and intangible cultural heritage.
Among the attractions are workshops devoted to Ni Gugu clay whistles and Wanfu tiger-fabric crafts, along with a Canal Granary memory museum, a shadow-puppetry workshop and a folk-performance theatre. Collectively known as the “Twelve Cultural Spaces of Liyang”, the venues are designed to turn the area’s history into hands-on experiences for visitors.
Traditional folk culture is another major part of the destination’s appeal. Xun County is associated with several forms of nationally recognised intangible cultural heritage, including Daping Opera, folk shehuo performances, traditional crafts and a historic temple-fair tradition.
The holiday programme also incorporates technology, with light shows and interactive activities intended to bring the ancient city environment to a younger audience. Visitors can move between historic scenery, cultural workshops, live performances and modern visual displays rather than experiencing the heritage only through museums or monuments.
The renewed focus on Liyang reflects a wider Chinese tourism trend toward “slow travel”, in which visitors spend more time exploring smaller historic destinations and experiencing local culture instead of concentrating only on major cities and headline attractions.
For travellers seeking an alternative to China’s busiest tourist centres, Liyang offers a combination of canal history, traditional arts, autumn scenery and contemporary cultural experiences.
As National Day holiday travellers continue exploring China, the ancient city is demonstrating how historic places can be repackaged as immersive destinations while retaining their traditional identity.
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