Rich historical and cultural resources serve as a cornerstone for urban development, and leveraging these advantages can create unique economic growth points to propel the construction of modern metropolises, deputies to the 14th National People's Congress said on the sidelines of the just concluded third session of the 14th NPC.

"Historic resources, including industrial relics and cultural landmarks, have been preserved and repurposed in Tianjin. Projects along the Haihe River, Nanjing Road and Beijing Street have transformed the city into a living cultural landscape," said Chen Fukuan, deputy secretary of the Tianjin Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China.

Chen made the remarks during a panel discussion by the Tianjin delegation in Beijing on Thursday, adding that Tianjin has made significant progress in cultural development, with strengthened efforts to build a culturally vibrant city.

Other efforts include upgrading public cultural services, launching high-quality events such as the Tianjin Music Festival, Drama Festival and Cross-Talk Spring Festival Gala, and promoting local artistic creations to meet diverse public demands, Chen said.

"By blending culture, tourism and commerce, Tianjin saw a 10.9 percent increase in domestic tourist visits and a 19.2 percent rise in per capita tourism spending last year," Chen added.

Drawing parallels to Ruijin's innovative approaches in Jiangxi province, where "the cradle of the Republic of China" has pioneered the integration of technology and cultural preservation, Tianjin's efforts reflect a nationwide trend of blending heritage with modernity.

In Ruijin, more than 120 revolutionary sites have been revitalized through digitization, including augmented reality-guided tours, a 540-degree immersive 3D experience center and virtual reality interactive projects such as the VR Tour of Ruijin.

Ruijin has leveraged cultural narratives to boost tourism and rural vitalization, said Yin Zhong, secretary of the Ruijin Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China.

Last year, Red tourism — tours to China's revolutionary sites — generated 124 billion yuan ($17.1 billion) in revenue, attracting 24.74 million visitors, a 10.1 percent year-on-year increase.

NPC deputy Meng Guanglu, a renowned Peking Opera performer and vice-chairman of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the Chinese Theatre Association, emphasized the role of culture as "the soul of the Chinese people".

Reflecting on his 25 appearances at the CCTV Spring Festival Gala, Meng stressed the importance of "preserving tradition while innovating" in art forms such as Peking Opera.

"We must align with the demands of the times and the preferences of younger generations to create works that resonate socially and visually," he said.

His remarks align with this year's Government Work Report, which prioritized "systematic cultural heritage protection" and enhancing the preservation and utilization of intangible cultural relics.

As Tianjin continues to blend its rich history with modern dynamism, it aims to craft a globally recognizable cultural identity while driving sustainable urban growth.

Contact the writers at yandongjie@chinadaily.com.cn