BEIJING: China has made significant achievements in cultural and tourism development during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), officials said at a media briefing on Monday.
This is reflected in flourishing cultural works, expanding public services, advanced heritage protection, thriving industries and deepened international exchanges, said Minister of Culture and Tourism Sun Yeli.
The sector has promoted both cultural prosperity and tourism recovery, contributing to high-quality economic and social development and meeting people’s growing needs for a better life, he noted.
In 2024, China’s cultural industries generated 19.14 trillion yuan($2.69 trillion) in revenue, up 37.7 percent from 2020, with 78,000 major cultural enterprises in operation, according to the ministry.
Tourism rebounded strongly after the pandemic. In the first half of 2025, domestic tourists made 3.29 billion trips and spent 3.15 trillion yuan, both record highs, it reported.
“Outstanding cultural resources are more fully tapped and utilized, while more cultural and creative elements are organically integrated into tourism development. This not only makes tourism more meaningful and attractive, but also allows visitors to experience cultural charm and gain spiritual enjoyment during their travels,” Sun said.
He pointed out that integrated “culture plus tourism” development has fueled demand in areas such as heritage tours, red tourism, study tours and live performances, while cross-sector synergies with commerce, sports and agriculture have expanded employment and consumption.
In particular, the ministry reported that over 60 percent of attendees at large-scale performances, including concerts and music festivals, traveling between cities, reflecting the powerful draw of these events and the growing trend of cultural tourism.
Last year, museums nationwide received nearly 1.5 billion visits, while intangible cultural heritage practices such as zanhuawei (the floral hair wreath) in Fujian province and fish lantern displays in Anhui province have attracted a growing number of tourists eager to experience their distinctive charm, according to the ministry.
During the 2021-25 period, China’s artistic creation ecosystem has been continuously optimized, leading to a sustained enrichment in the supply of outstanding literary and artistic works, said Lu Yingchuan, vice-minister of culture and tourism.
A steady stream of high-quality masterpieces has emerged, providing the public with abundant spiritual nourishment, Lu observed. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
