After work on Friday, head straight to Beijing West Station and take the high-speed rail for 2 hours and 8 minutes to arrive in Handan. Check in at a specialty snack shop in the evening; Visit the East Taihang Scenic Area and Xiangtangshan Grottoes on Saturday and Sunday, where you can enjoy a day of landscape and culture; Rushing the high-speed train back to Beijing in the evening to welcome a new week... This is the busy and rich weekend life of Beijing's "90s" boy Xiao Wang. In recent years, the "3-hour tourism circle" centered around the central city, with self driving and high-speed rail as the main modes of transportation, has attracted countless fans. Micro vacations that take two to three hours by car and last for two to three days are highly favored. What changes in the tourism market and people's lifestyles are reflected in the rise of "micro vacations"? During the weekend holiday, I went to a nearby city to "stroll and eat". Xiao Wang said that at first, he just made full use of each holiday to explore the counties and villages around Beijing, and later gradually developed to "spend the weekend in a different city". It's more important to arrange every weekend well than to travel uncontrollably Xiao Wang said that influenced by him, many friends around him have also started to try taking short distance high-speed trains to start weekend "micro vacations". More and more young people in first - and second tier cities are taking advantage of their weekends to "stroll and eat" around a nearby city, and the popularity of travel within the "3-hour tourism circle" continues to rise. According to data from multiple platforms, during the just passed Mid Autumn Festival holiday, the growth rate of orders related to short and medium distance "micro vacations" was leading, with a particularly significant increase in high-speed rail and self driving tours across cities within the province and neighboring provinces. According to data from Ctrip platform, the travel radius of high-speed rail travel orders during holidays is about 361 kilometers, which is nearly 30% shorter than the three days before last year's Mid Autumn Festival and National Day holidays. According to data from Tongcheng Travel, there is a strong demand for short and medium distance travel in urban agglomerations such as the Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta, Beijing Tianjin Hebei, Chengdu Chongqing Urban Agglomeration, and Central Plains Urban Agglomeration. The high-speed rail travel market within 3 hours is the most active. On the Fliggy platform, the number of domestic car rental bookings during the Mid Autumn Festival holiday increased by 31% compared to the Dragon Boat Festival holiday. So close, so beautiful, to Hebei this weekend. This catchy slogan has now become a popular internet meme, attracting traffic to Hebei tourism. According to big data passenger flow statistics, in 2023, Hebei Province will be the preferred destination for Beijing tourists, with nearly 40% of Beijing tourists choosing Hebei Province and Tianjin as their destinations when traveling outside the city. We hope to rely on the large-scale weekend tourism market in the Beijing Tianjin Hebei region and surrounding provinces to create first-class weekend tourism products, services, and environments in China, so that tourists can turn 'Hebei Weekend' into 'Hebei Festival' and enjoy a beautiful tourism life The relevant person in charge of the Department of Culture and Tourism of Hebei Province said. Shanghai has launched tourism special train routes for cities such as Yancheng in Jiangsu, Jiaxing and Quzhou in Zhejiang, Lu'an in Anhui, and Huaibei; Tongliang District and Dianjiang County in Chongqing have strengthened the integration of culture and tourism, and built "micro vacation" tourist destinations in the Chengdu Chongqing region... The "3-hour tourism circle" continues to release market vitality. How was the "3-hour tourism circle" formed with new transportation, new demands, and new experiences? Firstly, transportation is becoming increasingly convenient. Starting from Shanghai in the morning, you can go boating on the West Lake at noon, or stay in Anji homestay, or wave your hand and bite the delicious Shaobing (Baked cake in griddle) with the welcoming pine on Mount Huangshan Mountain. Similarly, residents of these cities can arrive in Shanghai within 3 hours by high-speed rail and have a wonderful day. At present, high-speed rail and intercity rail transit are becoming increasingly popular, and the connections between urban agglomerations are becoming closer. Weekend cross city vacations are becoming as common as cross city commuting. Taking high-speed trains or bullet trains for travel, the itinerary is timely and controllable, the transportation is fast and convenient, and a more leisurely itinerary can be arranged at the destination, suitable for us middle-aged and elderly people to travel Mr. Qian, a 68 year old Shanghai resident, said that the entire process of taking the subway from his home in the city center to Hongqiao Railway Station for ticket inspection takes only about one hour. Secondly, people's travel needs are becoming increasingly diverse. Micro vacations meet people's psychological needs for a brief "departure". Compared to the usual 'vacation', it is not only a reduction in distance, but also a condensed experience. Xiao Wang told reporters that after starting work, he has more disposable income and more autonomy in time management, allowing him to explore "niche" destinations in depth and "leave as he pleases". Some people enjoy the 'slow time' of traveling with family and friends. Ms. Peng, a tourist from Guiyang, and her family of three took the high-speed train to Leshan, Sichuan during their short holiday to minimize travel time and have plenty of leisure time. She believes that what attracts them now is no longer the "check-in" sightseeing tour, but to immerse themselves in local life and experience different customs and traditions in just two or three days. In addition, the tourism destination industry is becoming increasingly attractive. 36 tall carved wooden doors light open, actors dance gracefully; The light and shadow on the stage changed, and layers of water curtains fell from time to time... "It's so shocking!" The audience exclaimed in unison. In the "Dream of the Red Chamber · Drama Fantasy City" theater in Langfang, Hebei, the integration of scene installation art and stage immersion technology brings visitors a new experience. Whether by self driving, high-speed rail, or taking a direct train from Beijing, you can arrive within 2 hours. In recent years, various destinations have developed diverse cultural and tourism formats, such as "going to a city for a performance" and "going to a mountain for an outdoor experience", making it worthwhile for tourists within the "3-hour tourism circle" to visit. 'Micro vacation' brings tourists a new experience of 'fast travel, slow travel', promotes the modernization process of the tourism industry, and also provides opportunities for the development of more regions and high-quality employment for more people Dai Bin, President of China Tourism Research Institute, said. Upgrading the quality requires comprehensive efforts. Journalists have noticed that after the popularity of "micro vacations", some emerging destinations have encountered problems such as homogeneous construction and increased marketing. Many tourists who personally visit the so-called "Little Altay" and "Oil Painting Wonderland" find themselves deceived: the "beach" is actually a construction site, the "grassland" has become a barren grassland, and the blue sky and clear water rely entirely on filters... On the one hand, these "exquisite" landscapes created out of a desire for quick success and instant benefits are not worthy of the reputation of the tourism industry; On the other hand, within the "3-hour tourism circle", there are often geographically and culturally similar areas, and the development of tourism resources should also focus more on exploring unique features, coordinating and sharing, and promoting differentiated development. In addition, some tourists go to undeveloped mountainous areas and water bodies around the city to enjoy a more "wild" tourism experience, and recommend them to other tourists on social media platforms. The security risks and hidden dangers behind these behaviors cannot be ignored, and platforms and regulatory departments should take responsibility for management. The issue of the 'last few kilometers' has become increasingly apparent. After quick arrival, it is not convenient to rent a car and park, and the carrying capacity of the scenic spot is limited, which makes many tourists "roast". Professor Lou Jiajun from East China Normal University analyzed that various regions should attach importance to optimizing the "railway+scenic spot" tourism routes and transportation modes, and improve the connection between high-speed railway stations and scenic spots; Optimize the "heat distribution map" for tourists and promptly remind them to divert traffic; Using technological means to improve the efficiency of tourist entry and exit. Many industry insiders believe that the rise of "micro vacations" reflects a shift in tourists' consumption concepts, with traditional reliance on shopping leading to a decline in tourism revenue and an increase in demand for spiritual entertainment consumption. This requires the services provided by the destination to further match the needs of tourists. In addition to the demand for high-quality accommodation, soft needs such as food, art, socializing, health, entertainment, and parent-child interaction should be given attention to expand diverse consumption scenarios. Looking towards the future, 'micro vacation' destinations still need to invest more effort in constructing and promoting a tourism image that adapts to the development of the times, improving infrastructure and public services, introducing financial and industrial capital, cultivating business entities, and continuously improving tourist satisfaction and the sense of achievement of local urban and rural residents Dai Bin said. (New Society)