Recently, a hundred international travel influencers visited Changde City in Hunan Province. The foreign tourists immersed themselves in the city's cultural tapestry, experiencing firsthand the vibrant tourism vitality and intangible cultural heritage, allowing the city's charm to shine through cross-cultural exchanges. The event was part of the 2025 Hunan International Cultural Tourism Festival and the Ctrip Global Travelers (Greater Zhangjiajie International Tourism Area) Content Creation Conference.

Foreign tourists watch intangible cultural heritage performances at the Mandarin Zouma Tower. 

Foreign tourists show their flax linen painting works. 

In the morning, the influencers made their first stop at the Mandarin Zouma Tower on Hejie Street in Changde City, where an array of local cultural performances unfolded. The melody of the Changde silk-string performance "Changde is a fine place" filled the air, while the classic flower-drum opera duet "Liu Hai Cuts Firewood" captivated the audience. The powerful rhythms of the intangible cultural heritage performance "Lishui Boatmen Haozi (labor songs)" resonated strongly. The influencers raised their cameras to record the moments of these spectacular performances, with the clicks of shutters and bursts of applause blending into a vibrant melody.

Cultural experiences go beyond mere observation, but thrive on active participation. Following the performances, the influencers visited Li Jianying's Studio to admire the flax linen paintings. They also tried their hand at painting under the guidance of a representative inheritor of this intangible cultural heritage tradition. At the incense culture experience and incense-making workshop, the foreign visitors selected fragrances and made personalized sachets. At the Changde Taoxing Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum, they admired ceramic masterpieces and personally experienced pottery making, immersing themselves in the profound legacies of intangible cultural heritage.

Foreign tourists enjoy a fish banquet at Liuye Lake Fishermen's Song Art Camp. 

In the afternoon, the influencers headed to the Liuyue Lake Fishermen's Song Art Camp to savor an authentic fish banquet. Seated around the table, they admired the shimmering waters of Liuyue Lake while enjoying the genuine flavors of the fish. They frequently captured photos of the dishes, exclaiming, "The fish is delicious, the lake is beautiful—Changsha is truly amazing!"

The influencers use a drone camera to capture themselves on film amid the stunning scenery of the Taohuayuan Scenic Area.

The foreign guests try their hand at making lei cha, or ground tea at the Taohuayuan Scenic Area. 

Subsequently, the influencers embarked on a journey of "Searching for the Hidden Paradise" at the Taohuayuan Scenic Area. They visited iconic landmarks such as Taohua Mountain, Taoyuan Mountain, and Zhuangyuan Bridge, savoring tranquility amidst the cobblestone paths and lush bamboo groves. The scenic area's lei cha (ground tea) experience zone buzzed with activity. Staff members demonstrated how to make lei cha while influencers personally ground ingredients, savoring the refreshingly sweet brew they crafted themselves and immersing themselves in Changde's culinary heritage. A travel influencer from Rwanda expressed his admiration for the Taohuayuan Scenic Area: "amazing!"

Influencers board boats to watch a large live-action performance of "Peach Blossom Spring."

Influencers board boats to watch a large live-action performance of "Peach Blossom Spring."

As night fell, the influencers boarded boats at Qinxi's Wuliu Pier and drifted along the Qinxi River. A large-scale live-action performance, inspired by the fable "Peach Blossom Spring" written by Tao Yuanming (365-427), unfolded before them. They watched as "Wuling fishermen" explored hidden realms while "Taohuayuan villagers" sang and danced. Under the lights, the influencers felt as though they had traveled back through a thousand years. William, a blogger from Singapore, marveled, "The performance was breathtaking! The romantic finale, with peach blossom petals filling the sky, truly moved me!"

Though the Changde cultural tour has concluded, its allure continues to resonate. Numerous international travel influencers have already shared their experiences on social media, introducing this city—where natural beauty meets profound cultural heritage—to global audiences, spreading the reputation of the city to a wider world.

This article is from Hunan Provincial Government. www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Xiao Juan

Chinese source: hunantoday