BEIJING, July 1 (Xinhua) -- Ciqikou, an over 1,700-year old town located in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, held on Tuesday a multi-venue ceremony to celebrate debut of its newly upgraded scenic spots and facilities.
Photo: Debut ceremony of new scenic spots in the Ciqikou ancient town in Chongqing on June 29.
Known as "little Chongqing" among tourists, the ancient town now situated in Shapingba District in southwest Chongqing, hailed opening of Ciqikou back street, Shabin road, Ciqikou wharf, Ciqikou pedestrian street, Ciqikou night view light show and Chongqing 1949 grand theater, and start of construction of Ciqikou outer street as well on June 29.
Photo: Distant view of the Ciqikou ancient town.
With main venue for the ceremony set up in the Ciqikou pedestrian street, other sub-venues were established in the new scenic spots to refresh citizens and tourists in the ancient town with improved cultural experience, better facilities, and enriched entertainment choices.
Ciqikou pedestrian street, nicknamed the "reception hall" of Ciqikou ancient town, lies in the south of the old town and has picture windows of 52,000 square meters to showcase local folk culture.
Being 1.2 kilometers long, the pedestrian street resembles the live version of a famous ancient Chinese painting, the Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival, which depicts vividly every aspect of ancient life in Song dynasty (960-1279).
Elsewhere around the Ciqikou wharf, a series of scenic spots such as Longyin square, Baiyan square, Diecui garden, Qingshui River estuary, and Yinglongmen memorial archway comprise the unique riverside view along the Jialing River, on whose bank the Ciqikou ancient town sits.
Walking forward along the Ciqikou back street, young people can visit the numerous featured shops and select creative goods to experience the "slow life" on the antique commercial street.
Photo: Opening ceremony of the Ciqikou back street in Ciqikou ancient town on June 29.
All of the fantastic scenic spots, which became one of the most popular destinations for Chinese tourists, resulted from efforts poured into integrated development of tourism and culture by Shapingba district government in Chongqing in recent years.
Since 2019, Shapingba district government has included the 3.05 square kilometers of area in Gele Mountain and Ciqikou ancient town scenic zones into the Gele Mountain and Ciqikou ancient town scenic zone, targeting to build a 5A scenery spot famous for diversified local cultures.
In the past two years, 35 key projects have started construction and part of them have been put into operation, bringing new appearances to the ancient town. (Edited by Duan Jing with Xinhua Silk Road, duanjing@xinhua.org)
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