Cultural, Tourism Initiatives Energize Yanggu’s Consumer Market

LIAOCHENG, China, June 8, 2026 /Xinhua-AsiaNet/–

“We bought the combo ticket for five major scenic spots, and it only cost a few dozen yuan, more than half off the regular price,” said Zhang Liming, a university student, as he scanned a QR code at the entrance of the Jingyanggang Scenic Area in Yanggu County, Shandong Province, on May 18. “The money we saved is enough to treat my classmates to Wu Dalang’s sesame cakes and Yanggu meat pies in town.”

Since the beginning of this year, Yanggu has been deepening the integration of culture and tourism. By tapping into its unique resources from the legendary Water Margin (Shuihu) culture to red history and traditional farming heritage, the county has introduced a unified “All-in-One Pass” for five A-rated attractions: Jingyanggang Scenic Area, Shizilou Scenic Area, Chiyou Mausoleum Scenic Area, Yanggu Confucian Temple, and the Shandong Huazhentang E-Jiao Industrial Tourism Demonstration Zone. By offering real value to visitors, it has greatly enhanced their experience and crucially kept them in town longer.

The scenic areas have also launched themed cultural programs such as “Jianghu Hero Adventures.” Zhao Xiao, a tourist from Hebei Province, was impressed. “We originally planned to spend only half a day at Shizilou. But with such a cost-effective combo ticket, we decided to stay an extra night. At night, the ‘Never-Sleeping City’ was brilliantly lit, bustling with local life – the atmosphere was fantastic.” 

The “Never-Sleeping City” refers to two key night-time hubs: Shizilou and Songchao Yinxiang. Together, they offer night market food, costume parades, and creative products inspired by intangible cultural heritage, successfully transforming many “day-trippers” into “overnight tourists.”

Leveraging cultural venues at all levels, Yanggu has regularly carried out the “Our Chinese Dream: Culture for Everyone” campaign, organizing 460 public cultural events so far. The county has successfully hosted a diverse range of Spring Festival galas in 2026, including children’s performances, traditional operas, community-based programs, as well as the Spring “Yellow River Fair” series. During the first-ever National Reading Week, the county organized diverse cultural programs, including World Book Day promotions, a youth reading marathon challenge, a book flea market, classic recitation sessions, and parent-child storytelling events. From January to April alone, the county staged 356 “Four Seasons Village Galas” and 105 public reading activities.

Source: Information Office of Yanggu County People’s Government