RELAXED PACE OF LIFE CHAMPIONED BY CHENGDU

City's Tianfu Greenway offers visitors 100 routes to explore culture, cuisine and scenery, Cao Yingying reports.

Featuring the Tianfu Greenway, Chengdu, a tourist city in Southwest China's Sichuan province, has a variety of experiences for visitors.

"People in Chengdu live at a leisurely pace. I'm glad I visited it and had a chance to experience the city for myself," said a tourist surnamed Song from Beijing.

"While walking on the greenway with local residents, I realized what a leisurely life they live is like," Song said.

"Locals run on the greenway every morning and eat hotpot with friends after work. On weekends, they drive to Mingyue village with their family to learn how to dye textiles using natural plants. The life at a slower pace really makes me want to stay here for a few more days," she said.

And Song is not alone, with tourism numbers on the rise in recent years. The Chengdu culture, radio and TV, press and publication bureau launched an event in May, inviting 1 million locals to tour the city on 100 featured cultural tourism routes linked by greenways and experience the city's latest features.

To date, the event has attracted tens of thousands of residents. Celebrities including singer Feng Jiamei, international model Gao Zijun, famous designer Yin Jiulong and Olympic gymnastics champion Feng Zhe, as well as experts in various industries have also participated.

The 100 routes focus on five themes - cultural tourism, entertainment, fashion, a relaxed lifestyle and cuisine. They cover major sites in the city, such as Chengdu Planning Exhibition Hall, the Tianfu greenway planning and display center, taverns and a creative warehouse named U37.

The routes also include landmarks and scenic spots, including Tianfu Square, well-preserved ancient building compound Kuanzhai Alleys and Sino-Ocean Taikoo Li, a shopping center in Chengdu.

The expanding Tianfu Greenway will become one of the longest of its kind in the world, with a planned length of 16,900 kilometers.

It will not only provide a friendly environment for residents, but also connect cultural tourism sites in Chengdu, according to the local government.

The greenway also plays an important role in tourism services. Tourists can walk on greenways to reach scenic spots, public transport stations and find various public service facilities.

More tourists have enjoyed the unique charm of Chengdu and were inspired by city life, local official said.

According to official statistics, the lush rural landscape near greenways received more than 140,000 tourists during the three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday in June.

"The 100 tourism routes are comprised of historical and cultural scenic spots scattered around the city, which are connected by new greenways," said Doryang Lhamo, director of the Chengdu culture, radio and TV, press and publication bureau.

She said that the event is a prelude to the construction of an international, high-quality and diversified tourism system in the city.

Chengdu will develop its tourism industry throughout the city by focusing on ancient Sichuan culture, pandas and culinary and leisure attractions, she added.

Contact the writer at caoyingying@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 08/08/2019 page5)