A cultural tour with renowned cultural scholar in Hechi

Renowned cultural scholar Meng Man has visited Hechi in South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, touring Liuzhou and Luocheng Mulam autonomous county to explore local culture, natural landscapes and intangible cultural heritage in early April.

Meng, a graduate of Peking University. [Photo/Hechi Daily]

Meng, a professor at Minzu University of China and a household name from Chinese Poetry Conference, a domestic poetry reciting contest held by China Central Television, experienced local food culture and felt the vitality of Hechi's cultural tourism. She tasted luosifen, or river snail rice noodles, in Liuzhou and appreciated the city's distinctive character.

In Luocheng, known as the hometown of Liu Sanjie, the legendary folk singer of the Zhuang ethnic group, Meng admired the karst landscapes along the Wuyang River and visited the Mianhua Tiankeng Scenic Area. She also stopped off at the well-known cliff bookstore inside the giant karst sinkhole, where nature and reading integrate perfectly. Meng praised the innovative integration of literature and scenery.

A cliffside bookstore in South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region is redefining the reading experience with its one-of-a-kind setting. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

During her trip, Meng spoke highly of Hechi's natural beauty and profound cultural assets. She noted that the region's mountains and rivers remind one of the elegance of ancient Chinese poetry, while folk songs pass down traditional culture.

Local officials said the visit will help promote Luocheng's cultural tourism, boost the integration of intangible cultural heritage and tourism, and showcase the unique charm of Hechi to a wider audience.