The Yellow Emperor's Struggle: Whose Claim is It Really for Regional Tourism?
In China, there's a saying, 'We are all descendants of Yan and Huang.' The story of Yan and Huang was the first thing introduced in middle school history textbooks. In the current era of comprehensive tourism, Yan and Huang have also become a trump card, serving as cultural tourism slogans. Large-scale events are held across the country to pay homage to these ancestors.
Every March, Henan's Xin Zheng City holds the Yan and Huang Ancestral Worship Grand Ceremony. This year, due to special circumstances, it was broadcast globally through various television and online platforms, including CCTV, allowing overseas Chinese and the world to witness this magnificent scene. Within the world's tallest steel structure TV signal tower, the Fortune Tower, there's a panoramic painting depicting the Yan and Huang Ancestral Worship Grand Ceremony.
However, every March, because of Yan and Huang, it also triggers disputes online – where exactly were they born, and why does each region hold a worship ceremony? This inevitably reminds people of the Yellow Emperor's dispute between Henan, Shaanxi, and Gansu. Each province wants to gain some prestige in this era of cultural and tourism development,Historically, the birthplace and hometown of Yan and Huang are clearly documented in historical records. We can simply explain them. However, this argument has persisted for a long time, ultimately concluding that it's all about regional tourism. Why didn't this kind of dispute happen decades ago?
Regional tourism has become an important part of modern tourism development. What exactly is regional tourism? Let's explain it in a simple way: it's something that a region possesses – a rich cultural and historical heritage that represents a place. This can be real or imagined.
Before Yan and Huang, human life was simply a matter of survival, with only knowledge of wild fruits and hunting animals. But after them, there was a huge change. Therefore, any province or region that can prove its connection to Yan and Huang can develop a series of Yan and Huang Emperors' cultural tourism projects.
Why should we argue over who is the rightful descendant of Yan and Huang? Just like a mother with multiple sons, would she argue about which son is better? After all, they're all her children. In my opinion, we should all commemorate Yan and Huang in our own way, which is a good sign for cultural development and further improves foreigners' perception of Chinese people.
