Once known as an industrial city, Shenyang in Liaoning province plans to deeply integrate culture, tourism, sports, and commerce, fully leveraging its resource advantages to boost its status as a national historical and cultural city, said Mayor Lyu Zhicheng.

The city will continually optimize scenarios, activities, and services, and increase the supply of high-quality products to enhance its cultural influence, sports competitiveness, and tourism appeal, said Lyu, who is also a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress.

"Shenyang, once known primarily as an industrial city, has now become a booming tourist destination," said Lyu. "The city has seen its tourist visits increase from 145 million in 2023 to 230 million last year, earning Shenyang spots in the country's top 10 of several lists, including China's cultural tourism competitiveness and foreign tourists' favorite destinations."

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"We aim to attract over 250 million tourist visits in 2026," he added.

To boost its status as a national historical and cultural city, Shenyang will further delve into its historical, revolutionary, industrial, and ethnic cultural resources, according to Lyu.

"Historical and cultural districts like Shenyang Fangcheng Cultural Tourism Area and Laobeishi market have undergone transformations," he said.

A series of events like the China (Shenyang) Comedy Film Week and Shenyang Qipao Culture Season are gaining popularity annually, with festivals like the Shenyang Rose Music Festival and the Music Festival in the Third Workshop energizing the city.

"We will continue to enhance the protection of world cultural heritage sites, including the Shenyang Imperial Palace and two Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) mausoleums," he said. "We are also revitalizing historical sites like the Xinle Ancient Ruins, and upgrading districts like Zhongshan Road and Sheli Tower."

Meanwhile, Shenyang will capitalize on its growing sports reputation, particularly with the successes of the Liaoning men's basketball team, the promotion of Liaoning Iron Man Football Club to the Super League, and the Liaoning women's soccer team reaching the top three in Chinese Women's Super League.

"Shenyang hosts over 1,600 sports events annually," he said. "In 2026, the city will host major leagues like the Northeast Football City League, or Dongbeichao, CBA, Chinese Super League and Chinese Women's Super League, striving to become a major city for the development of football in China."

The 15th National Winter Games will be held in Liaoning in 2028, with Shenyang hosting some events.

To ensure a seamless integration of culture, tourism, sports, and commerce, Shenyang will focus on enhancing visitor experiences and city reputation.

"The city aims to build a streamline of visa-free entry, payment convenience, and tax refund processes to boost inbound tourism, fostering a lively, friendly, fashionable, and international city atmosphere," he said. "It will continue to improve service quality to ensure every visitor feels welcomed."

"We are also striving to enhance citizen civility and city culture to showcase an open, friendly, vibrant, and modern city to visitors across the world," he added.

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Sui Xin, dean of the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management at Shenyang Normal University, said Shenyang, as an old industrial base, faces significant challenges in promoting economic restructuring and industrial diversification.

"However, Shenyang's strategy of deep integration of culture, tourism, sports, and commerce has not only successfully broken down barriers between traditional industries but also provided new ideas and models for the city's transformation and upgrading," said Sui.

"Looking to the future, Shenyang should continue to deepen the integration strategy, focusing on enhancing the application of digital technology and promoting the online and offline integration of culture, tourism, sports, and commerce," he said.

"Meanwhile, the government should strengthen the construction of the public service system, optimize social participation and market regulation mechanisms, to achieve high-quality and sustainable development of the integration of culture, tourism, sports, and commerce," he added.

Contact the writers at zhouhuiying@chinadaily.com.cn