Kongtong Mountain in early autumn. [Photo/Pingliang Converged Media Center]

Home to Kongtong Mountain, Pingliang in Gansu province is one of the birthplaces of Taoism. Rooted in the pursuit of harmony between humanity and nature, Taoist thought has influenced the region's culture and traditions for centuries.

Since the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), the city has pursued its strategic goal of becoming a leading cultural tourism and wellness destination in Northwest China by placing its Taoist heritage at the heart of its development strategy, integrating it into cultural preservation, industrial development and regional coordination.

Children play on swings at the playground of a forest camping site in Kongtong district of Pingliang, Gansu province. [Photo/Pingliang Converged Media Center]

Pingliang has been enhancing its public cultural services by transforming museums, libraries and other cultural venues from traditional exhibition spaces into vibrant community hubs for learning, interaction and cultural experiences. These venues now serve as windows into local culture.

Participants race during the 2025 Kongtong Half Marathon in Pingliang, Gansu province. [Photo/Pingliang Converged Media Center]

The city's cultural programs have also adopted a two-pronged approach. High-caliber performances continue to meet growing public demand for diverse, high-quality arts and entertainment, while more than 1,000 public performances are staged in townships and villages each year, bringing art and cultural experiences closer to residents.

Pingliang has made the integration of culture, tourism and wellness a key driver of development. Across the city, tourism has become increasingly diversified. Established attractions remain major draw, while new destinations are rapidly gaining popularity. Rural tourism has also flourished, with vacations, agricultural experiences and wellness retreats bringing new vitality to the countryside.

By deepening the integration of culture, tourism and wellness, improving public cultural services and fostering new tourism experiences, Pingliang is preserving its Taoist legacy while creating fresh opportunities for economic growth and rural vitalization.