Siqinbilige (L), mayor of Ordos, receives an award honoring Ordos’ accomplishments in promoting green development and the integration of its cultural and tourism elements. [Photo/WeChat account of Ordos Reported]

The city of Ordos was recognized as a model demonstrating how a resource-based city can develop itself by playing to its cultural and tourism strengths, at the recent 2019 China Ordos Prairie Silk Road Forum for Cultural and Tourism Development.

The forum, held in Dongsheng district in Ordos on Aug 22, was attended by a slew of senior dignitaries.

Among them was Shao Qiwei, former director of the National Tourism Administration, Lyu Haifeng, secretary-general of the Global Forum on Human Settlements, Wang Qiyan, director of the Research Center for Leisure Economy at Renmin University of China, as well as other representatives from universities, associations and the Ordos government.

During the forum, a number of experts shared their insights into how Ordos had successfully morphed into a modern city from a prairie region. 

The event also received support from the UNESCO, with Roland Lin, specialist for UNESCO World Heritage Center, making a special visit to Ordos to investigate the development of its tourism sector and the preservation of tangible and intangible cultural heritage in the city. 

The Global Forum on Human Settlements presented an award to Ordos, to honor the city’s efforts and accomplishments in promoting green development and integration of cultural and tourism elements. 

Currently, Ordos has two 5A-level national scenic spot ratings and 28 4A-level scenic spot ratings. Every year, the city attracted tens of millions of tourists from China and abroad. 

In recent years, Ordos put great emphasis on promoting itself to other parts of China and the world by organizing tourism road shows. 

According to statistics, the city received 10 million tourists from January to July, up 13.1 percent year-on-year, generating tourism revenue of 30.4 billion yuan ($4.25 billion), up 20.8 percent on the previous year.

Genghis Khan Mausoleum, a 5A-level scenic spot in Ordos, basks in the sunlight. [Photo/WeChat account of Ordos Reported]

A caravan snakes through Whistling Dune Bay, a 5A-level scenic spot in Ordos. [Photo/WeChat account of Ordos Reported]

Looking good: a glorious night view of Ordos [Photo/WeChat account of Ordos Reported]