A conference to promote the "Highway 95" inter-province automotive tourism project was held from Nov. 24 to 27 in Quzhou, Zhejiang province.

Photo shows a Land Rover racing during the Land Rover G4 Challenge during the 2023 Highway 95 Road Trip Development Conference, held from Nov. 24 to 27 in Quzhou, Zhejiang province. [Photo courtesy of China Interactive Sports Technology Invention Co., Ltd.]

At the intersection of four provinces – Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian and Jiangxi – lies a 1,995-kilometer-long road known as "Highway 95." This "union road," a collaborative effort by Quzhou, Huangshan, Nanping and Shangrao, links nine national 5A-level scenic spots and numerous cultural and ecological landmarks.

Quzhou, situated in the western part of Zhejiang province and at the origin of the Qiantang River, is a renowned historical and cultural city in China. Known as the second hometown of the Chinese philosopher and politician Confucius, this small city has long been recognized nationwide for its historical significance.

In recent years, with support from Quzhou's local government, the four cities collaborated to create a "union garden." This initiative serves as the pilot, startup, and core area for building a national ecotourism cooperation zone for Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, and Jiangxi provinces. Integrated into each city's 14th Five-Year Plan and key government work, the goal is to collectively develop a vast natural space in eastern China, facilitate cultural and tourism industry exchanges among the four provinces, and boost high-quality regional economic development, organizers said.

The 2023 Highway 95 Road Trip Development Conference, themed "Discover Fantastic Mountains and Rivers, Enjoy the Union Garden," was held in Quzhou. The event included a forum, parade, Land Rover G4 Challenge, and automobile show. Aimed at leveraging the cultural and tourism resources of the four cities around the road, the conference sought to promote Highway 95 as a high-quality road-trip tourism route. This effort aims to attract visitors, activate the market, expand influence, and establish Highway 95 as a premier brand.

The event was guided by the Quzhou government and sponsored by the Quzhou Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism, and the Quzhou Dahuayuan Construction Investment and Development Group. Organizers included Beijing Kuye Sports Group, the road trip branches of the Shangrao Cultural Tourism Association and Nanping Cultural Tourism Association, and the Quzhou City Road Trip Tour and RV Camping Association.

Local government officials and enterprise leaders gathered at the event to share and exchange ideas. This group included Fang Jianzhong, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Quzhou Committee; Xu Lishui, deputy mayor of Quzhou; Chen Hongxin, deputy director of the Quzhou Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism; Fan Luwei, vice president of China Interactive Sports Technology Invention Co., Ltd.; Li Keqi, founder of iDriver Media; Lu Bin, chairman of the China Land Rover Union; Li Min, general manager of Beijing Kuye Sports Group, as well as other nationally renowned industry leaders and representatives of the automotive tourism sector, and Land Rover enthusiasts. The event also attracted attention from a large number of industry professionals nationwide.