Spectacular Danxiashan wows tourists and scholars alike

In 2025, Mt. Danxiashan reached another major milestone when it was included in the second batch of World Famous Tourist Mountains, marking its transformation from a site known primarily for its geological formations into a comprehensive cultural tourism destination. This recognition has enabled Shaoguan to drive growth in its culture and tourism sectors, translating pristine landscapes into economic benefits.

Leveraging a provincial pilot program integrating agriculture, culture and tourism, Shaoguan has consolidated resources to further enhance Mt. Danxiashan's appeal. Renhua county, the focal point of the mountain's development, has planned 86 agriculture-culture-tourism projects with a total investment exceeding 30 billion yuan ($4.46 billion). A flagship project is the Mt. Danxiashan cultural tourism complex, representing an investment of 10 billion yuan by Sunriver Holding Group. It features four thematic routes — in the sky, on the water, on land and at night — to create an interconnected, multidimensional travel experience.

Innovative strategies have also fueled the nighttime economy. In 2025, Eternal Danxia, a mountain-and-river light show staged aboard cruise boats on the Jinjiang River, debuted as Guangdong's first light-and-shadow performance set against a World Natural Heritage site. Using holographic projection and artificial intelligence-powered technology, it quickly became a viral attraction.

During the 2025 National Day holiday, the show attracted over 320,000 visitors to its night cruises and was featured on mainstream TV programs. Nearby hotels, restaurants and agritourism businesses have all benefited from the spillover effect.

In 2025, the scenic area welcomed over 3 million visitors and generated approximately 115 million yuan in comprehensive revenue, up 15 percent year-on-year.

Shaoguan is advancing a "cultural tourism plus" framework that integrates tourism with sports, research and agriculture. Signature events include a 50-km hiking race and a cycling race around the mountain. Renhua now hosts one of China's largest international clay target shooting training bases and has introduced sightseeing tours using passenger-carrying drones, tapping into the emerging low-altitude economy.

For research and study travel, Mt. Danxiashan draws on its distinctive geological and ecological assets to offer nearly 200 specialized courses and eight themed routes. Local authorities have also fostered diverse rural business models, including intangible cultural heritage workshops and leisure zones, while incorporating geological wonders, firefly forests and traditional handicrafts into the rural tourism experience. Tourism offerings centered on tea, pomelos and bamboo have created five major experience scenarios, allowing visitors to harvest fresh fruit, sample fine tea and stay in distinctive homestays while immersing themselves in authentic rural life.

As part of efforts to upgrade the surrounding landscape, Renhua has revitalized over 5,000 rural residences with local design elements, including Danxia red-stone textures and Huizhou-style architecture. Shaoguan has upgraded five provincial access roads and developed 12 provincial-level scenic routes. A new comprehensive tourist service center and a 52-km greenway network for slow travel now connect scenic spots, villages and homestay clusters.

Moving forward, Shaoguan aims to integrate culture, tourism, agriculture, sports and research travel, capitalizing on Mt. Danxiashan's World Natural Heritage status and its new title as a World Famous Tourist Mountain. Its goal is to transform this globally recognized geological wonder into a world-class tourism icon that embodies the charm of northern Guangdong and captivates visitors from around the world.