Counties in Hunan, Chongqing, and Guizhou to jointly develop 'Border Town' tourism brand

Three counties from Hunan, Chongqing, and Guizhou have signed a framework agreement to develop the "Greater Border Town" tourism destination. The initiative aims to dismantle administrative barriers and establish a world-class cultural and tourism area.

The agreement was signed by Huayuan county in Hunan province, Xiushan Tujia and Miao autonomous county in Chongqing, and Songtao Miao autonomous county in Guizhou province during the opening ceremony of the fifth Xiangxi Prefecture Tourism Development Conference. The conference commenced on Sunday in Chadong township, Hunan.

The old town of Chadong is known as the inspiration for Shen Congwen's 1934 novella Biancheng (Border Town), a literary classic translated into more than 40 languages. Set in the 1930s, the story depicts the lives of local people and the tragic love story of a young woman named Cuicui.

"Biancheng is a story the whole world is reading," said the cooperation agreement. As the counties closest to the setting, they have agreed to collaborate on cultural heritage, ecological protection, and brand building.

Situated at the junction of these three provincial-level regions, the counties share deep geographical and cultural ties, with a single river crossing linking them and local cuisine blending flavors from all three areas.

According to the agreement, the counties will develop tourism resources inspired by the novel, promote cultural and tourism integration, protect historical and natural sites, enhance environmental governance, and establish a unified "Border Town" brand. They also plan to connect their tourism routes and share visitor markets.

During the tourism conference, guests explored the area along two routes. The first was a river journey, passing the provincial boundary marker and the ancient culvert, featuring live performances on the riverbank and a traditional lantern show. The second route wound through the old border town's stone-paved streets, showcasing Miao lion dances and traditional ritual performances to recreate the bustling commercial atmosphere depicted in Shen's novel.