Posted on: March 02, 2017 | 
| 中文
The Drum Tower in Luoyang Old Town District (source - Visit Our China)
Luoyang was the capital city of several dynasties in ancient China for thousands of years. Over 13 dynasties made Luoyang their capital and 105 kings and emperors realized their ambitions here, respectively. In 2011, Luoyang was named as a “World Famous Cultural City” by the United Nations.
In June 2015, the Internet Interconnecting Silk Road fleet “China Dream & the Silk Road Dream” initiated its friendly exchange tour from Luoyang and crossed the Eurasian Continent, leaving its footprints in countries along the Silk Road Economic Belt and going as far as Milan, Italy. It brings back the historical memory of Luoyang that has been asleep for over thousands of years. During the East Han Dynasty nearly 2,000 years ago, Ban Chao departed from here and led his team on their westward journey.
The age-old history of Luoyang has left numerous cultural relics, ranging from Yongning Pagoda, Bronze Camel Avenue of Wei Kingdom of the “Three-Kingdom Period and the Han Dynasty in the ancient city of Luoyang to the Imperial Translation Training Agency of Regional Languages, from the footprint of the camels in front of the relics of Dingding Gate to the terraces and ancient trails at Hangu Pass in Xinan, from gold coins of the East Roman Empire and Persian silver coins to cultural relics such as tri-colored glazed pottery in the Tang Dynasty. The Longmen Grottoes 12 kilometers south of Luoyang is among the first national AAAAA scenic zones, as well as a World Cultural Heritage Site and one of the three national art treasures in China. They all witness the close connection between Luoyang and countries along the Silk Road. Along the traces of imperial courts spanning thousands of years, the city walls and gates, the precious remains of the Silk Road not only exhibit their historical accounts of the dynasties, but also retain the historical charms of the cities and roads in the past.
Luoyang possesses wonderful natural scenery. There are four rivers crossing the city and the 25-kilometer-long Luopu Park sits inside the city like a scroll of a water color painting. In the north there are the Yellow River scenic area and the Yellow River Wetland Nature Reserve whereas in the west are Daimeishan Mount World Geopark and Huoguoshan National Forest Park. In the south there are wonderful and delicate tourist destinations adding to the charm of Luoyang, such as Jiguandong Karst Cave, Baiyunshan National Forest Park, Longyuwan National Forest Park, Chongdugou, Muzhaling, Laojun Mount, Luhun Reservoir, and Funiushan Ski Resort. At the 2005 Sino-Europe Travel Forum held in Switzerland, Luoyang was entitled the “Europeans’ most favored tourist destination” in China. Moreover, Luoyang is known as a national forest city, a well-known world cultural city, a city of Peony in China and a “capital of poetry and fu” (an intricate literary form combining elements of poetry and prose or “prose poem” in ancient China)
Luoyang today enjoys boosting cultural exchanges along the Silk Road. In recent years, Luoyang has established contacts with many cities along the ancient Silk Road and strengthened connections with each other based on “the Internet”, so as to make it a platform incorporating historical, cultural and touring products along the Silk Road. Meanwhile, with the help of various forms of promotion, including sister-city relations, joint art festivals, cultural centers and the cultivation of exquisite tour routes, cultural exchanges and development of the enterprises are being enhanced.
The Heluo Culture that has spanned 5,000 years is what makes Luoyang comparable with other famous cities around the world. It is also its most peculiar feature, biggest potential and advantage in the new round of competition among cities. Luoyang, which has been through many ups and downs over the years, is now taking its chance on development against the backdrop of the “One Belt One Road” Initiative. It has established investment cooperation with more than 40 countries and regions, and Luoyang machinery has started to function along the Silk Road.
Tractors made in Luoyang have been exported to the five countries in Central Asia along the Silk Road. Since 2005, tractors and related agricultural facilities have been exported to Central Asia. Assembly factories have been set up in countries such as Kirgizstan and Kazakhstan. Tractors made in Luoyang have taken up 90% of the market share in Kirgizstan.
Meanwhile, being a long-established national key industrial base, Luoyang is on the advanced level around the country in high-tech fields, such as new material, electronics, aeronautics and astronautics. A number of national key projects are related to Luoyang machinery, such as high speed rail, manned spaceflight and submersible. In other words, Luoyang is actively engaged in the operation of the Silk Road Economic Belt.
Now, Luoyang is no longer a core area of the “One Belt One Road” Initiative. However, its legacy along the Silk Road continues as it marches forward to join the current of “One Belt One Road” construction and exerts its unique charm and glamour on the region.
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