A drone photo taken on June 6, 2025 shows cruise ships sailing on the Haihe River in north China's Tianjin. Tianjin has upgraded the lighting facilities of 216 buildings, 13 bridges, 8.2 kilometers of riverbanks and 7 docks along the Haihe River since the beginning of this year. The landscape lighting along the river has been greatly improved, outlining a distinctive night view of the city. (Photo: Xinhua)

China's Ministry of Transport (MOT) has introduced 36 domestic "golden waterway tourism routes" to stimulate tourism spending, China Media Group reported on Friday.

These routes, located across 23 provinces and cities, feature urban landscapes, natural scenery, cultural attractions and coastal views, officials announced at a press conference on Friday.

The initiative is part of ongoing efforts to integrate transportation and tourism development and the MOT has outlined three key areas for enhancing waterway tourism.

Infrastructure improvements will be accelerated, including upgrades to tourist waterways, passenger terminals and waiting facilities, along with enhanced port service standards.

Cultural and scenic tourism development will be emphasized, particularly along major rivers like the Yangtze River and Pearl River, as well as historic canals and ports. The program will highlight natural landscapes, historical heritage, red tourism sites and rural revitalization projects to create distinctive water tourism products.

Safety measures will also be strengthened, according to the ministry.

Yang Huaxiong, an MOT official, outlined the enhanced safety measures for waterway tourism.

"We are implementing the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, driver assistance systems, and intelligent video monitoring across passenger vessels to ensure comprehensive safety oversight during operations," Yang said.

The ministry is also adopting a precision management approach with customized safety protocols for individual routes and tailored solutions for key water areas. "These targeted measures are designed to guarantee both safety and enjoyment for all passengers throughout their journey," Yang said.

The MOT's initiatives to promote the integration of transportation and tourism will further unleash market vitality and drive sustained growth in cultural and tourism consumption, Wang Peng, an associate research fellow at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Friday.

By integrating new technologies and emerging business formats, the launch of more personalized and high-quality products is expected to meet consumers' increasingly upgraded needs, providing new momentum for the cultural and tourism sectors, Wang said.

The new plan comes at a time when China's tourism sector is rebounding. The sector saw steady growth during the 2025 Dragon Boat Festival holiday, with domestic trips increasing by 5.7 percent year-on-year to 119 million, according to data released by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Tourism revenue reached 42.73 billion yuan ($5.95 billion), up 5.9 percent compared with the same holiday last year.