Heritage-based Prosperity-- Anshun’s Fifth Turning Point

ZHANG HUA

Anshuns sites of scenic beauty, notably the Huangguoshu Waterfall, and the unique Tunpu culture originating in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) have made the city in midwestern Guizhou Province one of the most popular tourist destinations in China. Less known to outsiders is An-shuns reformist vision and pluck. Twenty years ago the mountainous city launched an experimental program to foster the non-public sector of its economy, namely selfemployed locals, private businesses, joint ventures and solely foreign-funded companies. In 2008 it established a national high-tech industry base for civil aviation, which gave it a firm footing in Chinas high technologies and new materials sector.

Owing to geographical and historical factors, Anshuns development still lags behind that of some regions. But it has huge potential for growth, and backing from higher-up authorities has intensified.

The State Council document on Guizhous development, published in January 2012, and an official paper that Guizhou provincial government issued more recently on Anshuns development, signify invaluable opportunities for the city in the near future.

Chen Jian, secretary of CPC Anshun Municipal Committee since May 2008, has lived and worked in Guizhou for 30 years. Having witnessed Anshuns changes and participated in its development, he is confident that the city can look forward to a more prosperous future.

New opportunities

China Today: Anshun has a history of around 630 years. Where do you think its charm lies?

Chen Jian: Anshun is an open city. Its contemporary aspect represents the culmination of four critical turning points over the past six centuries.

Anshun is site of Guizhous earliest civilization – the Kingdom of Yelang. Before the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the region was isolated from the Central Plains culture.

After the Ming armies suppressed a rebellion by a local ruler in neighboring Yunnan Province, whom the deposed Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) had appointed in 1381, large numbers of soldiers remained in Yunnan and Guizhou to defend the provinces against residual Yuan forces. At the order of the Ming emperor, their families were sent to join them, many from the Ming capital Nanjing in Jiangsu Province and from Fengyang in Anhui Province. The culture of the Central Plains hence found its way into this area and gradually mingled with the local folkways. It has evolved over the past 600 years into what we see today as the Tunpu culture. You can still see older women residents of Anshun in broad-sleeved dress reminiscent of Ming costumes, and hear people talking with a Nanjing accent. Tunpu culture is consequently a facet of both Anshuns diverse culture and its development.

During the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, Anshun was a safe haven, as the steep mountains surrounding the region offered natural protection against warfare and Japanese encroachments. Large quantities of national treasures were transferred from the Palace Museum to a cavern in Anshuns suburbs for safetys sake, and remained there for five years. Local people did their utmost to support their country, and the region became a rallying ground for patriotic Chinese from all over the country, catapulting Anshun into the vortex of new ideas and progressive culture.

The 1960s saw the third turning point, when China set in motion the massive campaign to strengthen industrial facilities and infrastructures in central and western provinces (as a precaution against conflicts with the Soviet Union and the U.S.). Experts and skilled workers posted to Anshun built the citys industrial foundation. In addition to sophisticated engineering projects that had never before existed in the region these knowledgeable migrants brought to this desolate territory new vision on the world beyond it.

The fourth turning point was Chinas Western Development drive that began 12 years ago, which scaled new heights in Anshuns road, railway, expressway and airport construction, as well as its water and air transport. It effectively connected the city with the outside world.

China Today: The State Council released a document on January 12, 2012 on the further development of Guizhou, and the provincial government later published a similar one on Anshuns development. What opportunities do they signify for Anshun?

Chen Jian: These documents give Anshun the policy support it needs for an economic lift-off and highlight its position on the regional development roadmap.

First, from a strategic standpoint, the official papers define the critical position of Anshun in relation to Guizhou Province. According to the State Council document, Anshun will be at the core of construction of an economic zone at the center of the province and instrumental to the integrated development of provincial capital Guiyang, Anshun and neighboring cities. The provincial document specifies Anshuns function of providing bases for equipment manufacturing industry, deep processing of natural resources, light industry, product manufacturing, and logistics.

Now that Anshun is entering a new era of development its focus will be on new industrialization, urbanization, industrialization of tourism, and modernization of agriculture aimed at guaranteeing its residents improved living conditions.

Integrated tourism Resources

China Today: The Huangguoshu Waterfall and the Dragon Palace (an area strewn with limestone caves, bluffs, rivers and lakes) are both national accredited AAAAA scenic spots. What are Anshuns plans for tourism development?

Chen Jian: Anshun has far more tourism resources than those you mention. Guanling Fossil National Geopark and Huajiang Grand Canyon are also among Anshuns sites of scenic beauty.

Anshun plans to apply for world natural heritage status for Huangguoshu Waterfall, for national scenic spot status for Tunpu and Huajiang Grand Canyon, and for national AAAA scenic area status for Yelang Lake, Getu River, Sila River and Tiantai Mountain. Anshuns tourism industry anticipates a peak season of growth.

For better integration of local tourism resources, and to make best advantage of the Huangguoshu Waterfall Scenic Zone, Anshun plans to set up a National Huangguoshu Park covering 120 square kms and encompassing the 12 scenic spots that include Huangguoshu Waterfall, the Dragon Palace, Tianlong Tunpu and Guanling Fossil National Geopark. Anshun also plans to target different consumer groups, ranging from day-trippers to vacationers to budget travelers.

Preserve Cultural Roots

China Today: Bearing in mind Anshuns profound historical background and diverse cultures by virtue of the different ethnic minorities living here, how will Anshun develop and showcase local cultures in efforts to promote its cultural industry?

Chen Jian: In view of its geo marvels and ample, splendid landscapes, in 2006 Anshun was appointed Historical and Cultural City of Guizhou. To generate greater prosperity and development, Anshun has come up with plans to upgrade its cultural industry by 2016 to more than six percent of the local GDP.

This is the reason for building up brands for Huangguoshu, Dragon Palace, Guanling Fossil National Geopark and Xingwei Stone and Fossil Museum and other scenic spots.

Besides all this, cultural events such as the Huangguoshu Waterfall Festival, the Rape Flower Festival at the Dragon Palace, the Half-Marathon from Zhenning Bouyei and Miao Autonomous County to Huangguoshu, and the International Rock Climbing Exchange Conference at Getu River will help to promote Anshuns cultures to the world.

China Today: The Tunpu people have carried on the heritages of the Central Plains culture for more than 600 years. This is truly amazing.

Chen Jian: It is indeed. Someone once wrote that the Central Plains culture of the Ming and Qing dynasties now mainly exists only in dusty old tomes, but here in Anshun it is part of the daily life scenario. I believe that culture is at the root of a citys development, and that a citys future is inextricable from its cultural inheritance.