On October 13, a conference focused on exploring new ideas and pathways for the wellness industry was held in Lüliang, Shanxi Province, featuring the “Wellness Lüliang” initiative. The event, organized by the Lüliang Municipal People’s Congress, attracted numerous experts, scholars, industry leaders, and wellness professionals.
Lüliang City is historically known for its harmonious blend of natural beauty and cultural heritage, situated between the Fen River to the east and the Yellow River to the west. This prime geographic location, along with abundant natural resources, makes it a gem for wellness tourism. With a forest coverage rate of 28.86%, Lüliang is home to various attractions, including the Pangquan Valley National Scenic Area, the North Wudang Scenic Area, the Cangerhui Ecological Cultural Scenic Area, and the ancient town of Qikou, laying a solid foundation for the development of the wellness and cultural tourism industries.
During the conference, Liu Zhenguo, Secretary of the Lüliang Municipal People’s Congress, noted that in recent years, Lüliang has actively engaged with the “Wellness China” development strategy, delving into new pathways for the wellness industry. The city is focused on integrating healthcare, wellness, and tourism sectors, providing a wider range of options for the public based on high-quality resources and services.
According to reports, Lüliang follows the strategic vision of “Wellness in Shanxi, Summer Wellness in Shanxi,” promoting a “Wellness +” model while developing multiple plans for wellness advancement. This includes integrating local scenic areas, forest parks, and wetlands into wellness projects like those at Pangquan Valley and North Wudang Mountain. Several projects have successfully been selected as national and provincial wellness pilot programs. Efforts are also underway to merge rural tourism with wellness initiatives, enhancing the capabilities of combining medical and wellness services and strengthening the healthcare support for the wellness industry.
The conference featured keynote speeches from five distinguished experts, including Dou Wenzhang, Deputy Director of the Strategic Research Institute at Peking University’s Guanghua School of Management and a member of the China Tourism Reform and Development Advisory Committee. Their presentations provided insights and suggestions for Lüliang’s wellness industry, focusing on resource exploration, industry positioning, business development, and operational strategies.
Lüliang’s Deputy Mayor Ren Lei expressed a wish for experts and scholars to delve deeper into Lüliang’s offerings, diagnose its wellness industry needs, and share valuable insights, fostering broader and deeper collaborations to create shared opportunities for development.
Looking ahead, Lüliang plans to enhance infrastructure, improve service quality, and innovate marketing strategies to build a unique wellness brand that reflects the region’s characteristics, injecting new vitality into its economic transformation and high-quality development.
