The cultural tourism boom during theLabor Dayholiday continues to heat up, as the ecological landscapes of Chizhou, Anhui, once again amaze the world. On May 4, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning posted a short aerial video of the sunset over Pingtian Lake in Chizhou on her verified personal account on an overseas social media platform. In the footage, the glow of the sunset spreads across the lake, merging water and sky into one, evoking the poetic charm of the Jiangnan region. Within 24 hours of its release, the video garnered over 100,000 likes and shares worldwide, with many overseas netizens commenting to praise the excellent ecological environment of southern Anhui. According to a reporter's tally, this marks the fourth time since the beginning of 2026 that Mao Ning has specifically promoted Chizhou's landscapes. Such a high frequency of endorsements within such a short period has become a phenomenal city promotion highlight of the year.
Photographer Chased the Sunset for Three Days to Capture a Breathtaking Moment
In the 24-second original aerial short film, Pingtian Lake at dusk appears vast and serene, with the lights along the lakeside boardwalk complementing the brilliant sunset, creating a fresh, healing, and exceptionally high-quality visual experience. Our reporter conducted an exclusive interview with the videographer – Rao Yi, a local photographer from Chizhou – to hear the story behind this viral shot.
On the evening of May 2, Rao Yi predicted, based on professional meteorological data, that a stunning, high-clarity sunset would appear on the evening of May 3. That afternoon, he arrived early at the popular "Sky Road" spot by Pingtian Lake to wait. At 7:02 PM, the entire lake surface was covered in an intense orange-red glow, creating a powerful visual impact. Standing there on site, Rao exclaimed, "A critical hit of breathtaking beauty – so beautiful that I'm speechless." He shared that over the years, he has captured and archived more than 50 sets of sunrise and sunset scenes at Pingtian Lake, but this combination of sky colors, light, and lake environment was exceptionally harmonious, resulting in footage of the highest quality.
From Hua Chunying to Mao Ning, Chizhou's Scenery Frequently Appears on National-Level International Promotion Platforms
Chizhou's high-quality landscapes have become regular features on national-level international promotion platforms, with a clear and traceable communication trajectory. As early as 2024, then-Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying promoted Rao Yi's original footage of Pingtian Lake's "Water Sky Road," which garnered over 100 million views overseas, helping Chizhou's scenery become part of a national-level key landscape resource bank for international promotion.
The reporter has compiled Mao Ning's posts since the beginning of 2026:
January 28: An ecological scroll of the sandbars in the Chizhou section of the Yangtze River
January 29: Wintering white cranes at Poyang Lake in Jiangxi
March 3: The Ao Yu lantern display at Tangmo, Huizhou District, Huangshan (during the Lantern Festival)
March 21: The Qibu Waterfall at Jiuziyan in Chizhou, presenting the poetic scene described by Li Bai: "A heavenly river cascades as emerald water"
April 4: A high-speed train passing through misty spring fields at Xinghua Village, Guichi District, Chizhou
May 4: The pink-orange sunset over Pingtian Lake in Chizhou
Four focuses on Chizhou within 97 days have consistently and coherently burnished the city's bright image, which combines ecological depth, a thousand-year cultural heritage, and contemporary vitality.
"The Most Moving Scenery Is the Pristine Natural Landscape Within Reach"
Rao Yi told reporters, "I am a native of Chizhou, and I steadfastly focus my lens on the landscapes right at my doorstep. The fact that the Foreign Ministry has repeatedly chosen my aerial footage is not because my shooting skills are exceptional, but because Chizhou has a solid ecological foundation, and the scenery of Pingtian Lake is naturally appealing and inherently warm." He believes that the most moving scenery is never an artificially arranged set, but the pristine natural landscape that you live with day and night and can reach out and touch – it naturally possesses an empathetic power that touches the heart. The scenery of Pingtian Lake is gentle, understated, not flashy or noisy, and carries a soothing, healing quality. He hopes that in the future, when people around the world speak of China's beautiful lakes, in addition to the classic West Lake, they will also be familiar with Chizhou's Pingtian Lake.
Labor DayCultural Tourism Upgrades: Pingtian Lake Welcomes Visitors with Diverse Offerings
Coinciding with the Labor Daytravel boom, the Pingtian Lake Scenic Area in Chizhou has seized the opportunity to upgrade its cultural tourism services, launching a variety of diverse new features. The second phase of the Pingtianli·Sail Camp has been fully renovated and improved, offering a one-stop experience for leisure sightseeing and lakeside relaxation. The Qishan Cliffside Carving Specialty Market has newly opened, blending the heritage of ancient stone carvings with the vibrant atmosphere of local life. Regular public Huangmei Opera performances and the 9D dreamy immersive experience at the Lotus Flower Platform have also been opened to the public across the area. These multi-point coordinated efforts to optimize holiday services have created a new, immersiveLabor Daytravel scene for visitors from all directions, blending mountains and waters, culture and nature, in a comfortable and delightful environment.
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