The Baotou Literature Museum. [Photo/Baotou news network]

On Dec 22, 2023, Baotou government released the Implementation Guidelines for Building a New-Era Cultural Hub, officially prioritizing culture as a key element of the city's long-term development.

The city established the first permanent literature museum in Inner Mongolia, called the Baotou Literature Museum, and organized more than 1,500 unique cultural and tourism events, such as the China (Baotou) Art Expo and the Yellow River Ice Watching Week. These events generated significant local participation and transformed Baotou into a vibrant cultural center.

Baotou was selected as the location for two significant research centers: the Great Wall Historical and Cultural Research Base of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the Northern Frontier Culture (Baotou) Research Base.

In 2024, Baotou is expected to welcome 21 million domestic visits – a year-on-year increase of 10.7 percent – with total tourist spending reaching 29 billion yuan ($4 billion), up 12.3 percent.