On the morning of July 21, a public hearing on the Lüzhong Town Tourism Master Plan and the upgrade plan for the Ancient Town Scenic Area to achieve 5A status was held in the town government’s conference room. Attendees included Lu Zhenhua, Wang Hanhong, Ju Hairong, Hong Taosheng, Wu Qiurong, Dai Chunrong, Zhou Xuezhong, Xu Zenglin, Jin Xueming, Wu Guodong, Zhou Lei, and Xie Peihong. The hearing was chaired by Wu Qiurong, Chairman of the Town Federation of Trade Unions.

The summary of the meeting is as follows:
I. Qian Weijun, Deputy General Manager of the planning and design firm, Shihua Jiangnan Cultural Company, presented the preliminary draft of Luzhi Town’s Tourism Master Plan and the preliminary draft of the plan to upgrade the Luzhi Ancient Town Scenic Area to a 5A rating. In the Tourism Master Plan, through an analysis of Luzhi Town’s development context, an assessment of its tourism‑development conditions, and an examination and forecast of the tourism market, the plan preliminarily defines Luzhi’s tourism development positioning and strategic objectives; outlines industrial layout and project planning; establishes a framework for building a tourism project portfolio; formulates tourism product strategies; devises an integrated marketing plan for the destination; coordinates the development of key tourism‑industry elements; articulates supporting infrastructure and urban‑development measures; and sets out resource‑conservation and environmental‑protection guidelines. The plan also includes detailed investment estimates and benefit analyses, mechanisms to ensure effective implementation, and a short‑term action plan.

In the special plan for the master planning of the Chenghu Tourism Resort, an analytical and strategic framework was developed across four key dimensions: leveraging comparative advantages and identifying development opportunities; defining the resort’s development positioning and objectives; formulating a comprehensive spatial layout and project portfolio; and designing transportation infrastructure along with phased implementation guidelines.

In the planning process for upgrading the scenic area to a 5A rating, a background analysis was conducted, with particular emphasis on the context of the 2011 China Cultural Tourism Year and Luzhi’s status as one of Suzhou’s first pilot units for tourism standardization. Through an analysis of the development foundation and a self-assessment of 5A criteria, the plan preliminarily defined its strategic positioning and development approach, optimized spatial layout, and formulated key project proposals. It also included plans for enhancing commercial formats, elevating product offerings, and developing a comprehensive upgrade strategy for achieving 5A status, along with a detailed work plan for the 5A certification process, accompanied by projected evaluation outcomes.

II. Following the presentation, the hearing participants exchanged views on the two proposals and discussed several practical issues raised in the plan, focusing primarily on the following aspects:

1. While it is relatively straightforward to develop a plan for the existing ancient town, the planning scope—including the Funan Village area—presents significant challenges due to its inclusion of residential villages; therefore, we recommend reconsidering the planning boundary. The proposed plans in the master plan—such as a large-scale tourist parking facility, the development of distinctive century-old shops, and the organization of festive events—are all practical and feasible. In the future, the ancient town can be connected to the surrounding attractions via major transportation corridors.

2. At this stage, expanding tourism planning to cover the entire town presents significant challenges. In particular, the master plan for the Chenghu Tourism Resort, which aims to usher in the “Chenghu Era,” remains difficult to implement at present; therefore, we recommend limiting efforts to a preliminary, conceptual framework. Additionally, special attention should be given to the operational feasibility of projects, ensuring seamless alignment with the town’s overall master plan and harmonious integration with surrounding industries, land uses, and spatial layouts.

3. The focus is on the enhancement plan for the ancient town’s 5A‑level scenic area. In particular, development around Hefeng Bridge and at the entrance to the ancient town along Xiaoshi Road is a priority; efforts should be made to deeply explore its cultural heritage and leverage it as a tourism resource. Regarding the 5A‑level self‑assessment, the task goes beyond mere scoring: deficiencies must be systematically listed, accompanied by concrete recommendations for improvement, and a comprehensive, detailed planning proposal should be prepared.

4. The issue of restoring the “Eight Scenic Spots of Fuli.” In line with the principles of cultural heritage protection, sites that no longer exist are not recommended for restoration; it suffices to ensure the proper preservation of the archaeological remains. As for the development of historic buildings included in the planning, the mid-term plan designates Yucailu Road as the eastern boundary, with the possibility of further eastward expansion in the long term.

5. The completion of the planning is tentatively scheduled for before the end of the year. With regard to the key projects identified in the ancient town tourism plan—such as a large parking lot, a visitor center, and solutions to transportation challenges—these should be refined and improved in the new plan through thorough on-site surveys and by promptly incorporating relevant feedback.

The moderator concluded by stating that this planning proposal is quite detailed and comprehensive, with a substantial amount of content. The discussions and recommendations from the hearing participants will be submitted to the relevant leaders for their review and consideration, and further investigation and analysis will be conducted to ensure the successful implementation of the Luzhi Ancient Town tourism plan.