Guizhou's Suiyang: Developing all-inclusive tourism to drive economic growth and prosperity

People's Daily, Suiyang, July 12 (by Wang Qin) — On July 11, Suiyang County in Guizhou Province hosted the 2015 Tourism Industry Development Conference, along with the grand opening ceremonies for Qingxi Lake and Shuanghe Cave scenic areas. Leveraging the unique natural advantages of these two attractions, the county is fully embracing market-oriented operations, project-based development, and a corporate-style management model to seamlessly integrate rural tourism, sightseeing tours, and landscape-based travel across the board. This strategic approach aims to position tourism as the county’s flagship pillar industry driving its overall economic growth.

As one of the key projects being developed in Suiyang County, Qingxi Lake and Shuanghe Cave Scenic Area leverage their unique natural advantages, seamlessly blending the region’s lush forests, crystal-clear springs, rugged mountain rocks, serene streams, cascading waterfalls, and other breathtaking landscapes with the distinctive cultural charm of northern Guizhou’s traditional dwellings—creating a stunning eco-tourism masterpiece that showcases Suiyang’s unparalleled natural beauty.

It is understood that Qingxi Lake is located in Qinggangtang Town, Suiyang County. The main stream and its tributaries stretch for about 50 kilometers, with deep, secluded canyons lining both banks. The area boasts stunning scenery, an exceptionally well-preserved natural ecosystem, and thrilling rafting adventures. Meanwhile, Shuanghe Cave has earned accolades such as "China's Largest Cave System" and "the Karst Natural Cave Museum," thanks to its breathtakingly diverse stalactite and stalagmite formations, vibrant biodiversity, and richly preserved cultural heritage steeped in history and charm.

Journalists have learned that Suiyang County is steadily advancing its tourism development by following a strategic approach centered on "upgrading and modernizing a select group of attractions, attracting investment to others, uncovering and planning new ones, boosting external promotion for key sites, and enhancing infrastructure across the board." The county is actively improving the facilities at scenic spots such as Shixiang Flower Sea, Shuanghedong Cave, Shuangmen Gorge, Qingxi Lake, and Hongguo Tree, while also fully integrating tourism with the primary, secondary, and tertiary industries. With national-level tourism positioned as the region's long-term growth driver, Suiyang is forging ahead in building a tourism ecosystem that seamlessly blends ecological preservation with sustainable, scenic, and verdant experiences—creating a vibrant brand that not only highlights its commitment to nature but also fuels economic expansion.

As of now, Suiyang County has developed 14 scenic spots and attractions, with 11 more currently under construction and 19 tourism projects in the pipeline. In 2014, the county welcomed 4.3 million visitors, representing a year-on-year increase of 25.3%; total tourism revenue reached 3.85 billion yuan, up 28.1% from the previous year. From January to June 2015, Suiyang County attracted 2.77 million tourists, marking a significant 45.21% rise compared to the same period last year, while total tourism revenue surged to 2.326 billion yuan, reflecting a robust 32.59% growth over the prior year.