On July 31st, the Global Event for Promoting Honghe Culture and Tourism in 2026 took place at the New Media Tower of the People's Daily in Beijing. The event was organized by the Culture and Tourism Administration of the Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan Province, located in southwestern China, and aimed to present the prefecture's tourism resources and cultural brand to a global audience.
Honghe is the only destination in the world that simultaneously holds the status of a UNESCO World Heritage site, a World Significant Agricultural Heritage System site, and a World Heritage Irrigation Works site. These achievements are based on the Hani rice terraces, the ancient city of Jianshui, and the China-Vietnam Railway.
The thirteen counties of the region offer various types of tourism, including wellness, rural, and cross-border tourism, facilitated by its location facing Southeast Asia. Zhang Musing, Deputy Governor of the Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, highlighted the region's natural advantages, such as over 60% forest cover and its status as China's first prefectural 'natural oxygen bar,' as well as local delicacies like Mensi blueberries and pomegranates.
The Honghe Culture and Tourism Administration also signed a cooperation agreement with the Yunnan channel of the People's Daily newspaper for the joint promotion of the region's tourism brand. A global campaign to collect slogans for Honghe's intellectual property was launched during the event.
Tan Weihun, Vice President of People's Daily Online, noted the platform's wide reach across 18 foreign languages and nearly 1.2 billion users, as well as its growing role in creating AI-based content, which is a key advantage in supporting Honghe's efforts to enhance international recognition. A virtual AI tourism ambassador, 'Honghe Niuniu,' was also presented at the event, along with stories from a traveler and blogger, and the public was called upon to submit slogans reflecting Honghe's appeal.


