With the consent of the State Council the National Development and Reform Commission has recently given its official approval for the "Plan on South Anhui International Cultural Tourism Demonstration Area Development".

According to the plan, the demonstration zone will become the first area of construction, a world-class tourist destination and fine traditional Chinese cultural heritage Innovation Zone. The demonstration area will strengthen the overall development and utilization of the site, offering light rail interoperability among three famous scenic areas in Anhui province.Tourists can also expect to be able to do duty-free shopping in Hefei, Huangshan, and Chizhou airports.

South Anhui International Cultural Tourism Demonstration Zone includes seven cities, some 47 counties (cities and districts), in which two cities and six counties have been designated as the core areas.

In order to play a leading role in the core area, the demonstration area will focus on creating a cultural tourism development pattern of "one circle, two belts." One circle refers to the ancient Huizhou cultural tourism development circle, which fully displays the historical and cultural charm such as four treasures, Anhui cuisine, and Anhui tea, with Huangshan Mountain as their center, with an extension of the surrounding cultural tourism circle, creating the ancient Huizhou Cultural Tourism Development circle as the model of a beautiful China construction.

Two belts refer to the landscape tourism development of "three mountains and three lakes" and the Wanjiang cultural tourism development belt. The former is developing its international and domestic tourism market, forming a world-class golden tourism belt. The latter gives full play to the role of the Yangtze golden tourism channel, highlighting urban leisure and eco-tourism.

In the next few years, connections between the demonstration area and surrounding areas will be strengthened; the transport network in the region will be improved, achieving links by fast rail to all provincial cities. Common rails and national highways cover towns with a population of more than 200,000.

The demonstration area is positively developing urban railways, making it possible for visitors to take the train to visit core attractions in the demonstration zone. In addition, the demonstration area will increase the airport's construction, and nine cross-river channels are expected to be constructed.

Moreover, Anhui tourism can offer visitors a beautiful scenic lake experience and shopping fun. The plan will actively support the establishment of duty-free shops in Hefei Xinqiao International Airport, Huangshan Airport, and Jiuhua Mountain Airport. The plan also points out that to establish the cultural tourism service quality standard system connected with international rules, support should be given to Huangshan Airport, Jiuhua Mountain Airport, and Hefei Xinqiao International Airport to open and strengthen international and regional routes, as well as declaring the intention to hold a China (Huangshan) International Cultural Tourism high-level forum, building on international cooperation in the demonstration zone.

The plan also upholds the innovation of geographical cultural heritage, to support Jiuhua Mountain, and Tianzhu Mountain to be declared World Heritage sites, timely establishing the National Academy of Anhui culture. The plan also pointed out that, to effectively play the service role of Hefei, its demonstration area construction and development should promote fast-track channel construction, build a Chaohu-surrounding eco-tourism brand, building Hefei as an important customer source and transit point for the demonstration area construction.

Edited by Brian Salter, Huang Pei