Media Center
Guilin has made significant progress in developing into a world-class tourist city, as evidenced by key achievements in technological innovation and cultural-tourism integration shared at a Sept 12 press conference.
Technological innovation has taken center stage. The city established Guangxi's first municipal AI task force and launched the region's first domestically developed commercial large model, "Guilin-version Sheng teng DeepSeek".
Mao'er Mountain, the highest peak in South China, stands majestically. [Photo provided to guangxi.chinadaily.com.cn/guilin]
An "AI Guilin" cultural-tourism model has merged technology with natural landscapes. Twenty-seven "AI plus tourism" products like "AI tour guides" and 50 real-world AI applications, let visitors experience how deeply technology has been integrated into the city.
A collaborative "one alliance, one center, one fund, one system" model with Zhejiang University has accelerated innovation. In 2024, Guilin claimed 26 percent of Guangxi's science awards, with three breakthroughs named provincial "firsts" and six products listed as Guangxi's first major technical equipment, reflecting strong tech conversion.
Cultural tourism growth is another highlight. The expanded "Guilin Classics" brand saw Lingqu Scenic Area join national 5A candidates, while Guangxi's first "AI plus tourism" demo base brought new life to classic landscapes.
Foreign friends visit Elephant Trunk Hill, the emblem of Guilin. [Photo provided to guangxi.chinadaily.com.cn/guilin]
The first half of 2024 saw 84.21 million visitors and 103.6 billion yuan ($14.36 billion) in revenue, up 12.1 percent and 12.2 percent respectively.
New formats like immersive shows "Guilin in Drama" and low-altitude tours are thriving, with events such as Misty Rain Marathon and Spring Festival fireworks leading to over 234 million yuan in consumption.
Such efforts underscore Guilin's commitment to high-quality development and its journey toward world-class status.
Guilin's innovative cultural and tourism hotspots are viral hits among visitors. [Photo provided to guangxi.chinadaily.com.cn/guilin]
