Pingyao aims to become 5A tourist attraction

The local government invited a professional planning agency to help the UNESCO World Heritage county of Pingyao, North China’s Shanxi, become a 5A tourist attraction.

Researchers from Beijing Zhiyuan Jiangshan Consultancy examined and took notes about the tag system, tour guide service, environmental and public health conditions, and other hardware and software facilities in Pingyao in addition to testing the transport accessibility of the county.

The first-hand information will be used to compile plans as to how to better implement standardization in Pingyao and promote it as a 5A tourist attraction.

Recognition as a 5A tourist attraction is the top ranking in China’s five-level tourist site evaluation system and is awarded by the China National Tourist Attraction Evaluation Committee to sites that represent the best of China’s tourist resources.

As the 5A title stresses more the experience of tourists and details, some argue that it’s even harder to earn a 5A title than recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage site.