亚太旅游协会主席彼得·西蒙：我已深深爱上湖北！

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning!

I am truly honored to be here in the beautiful province of Hubei during spring time - a splendid time of the year - to join all of you here in the picturesque Wuhan.

女士们、先生们：

早上好！

在这个春光明媚的美好时节，我非常荣幸来到风景如画的湖北武汉，与各位共同参与2025湖北文化和旅游发展大会。

Here, you’ll encounter some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the world. The Three Gorges of the Yangtze River are a true phenomenon and something that every traveler in the world must see at least once in their lifetime. Majestic mountains, deep gorges, and misty rain come together to create a poetic beauty that captivates the hearts of all who visit. Shennongjia, favored by nature itself, is home to the only well-preserved subtropical forest in the world’s mid-latitudes. It is a true Garden of Eden!

在这里，您会遇见世界上最壮丽的风景。长江三峡堪称自然奇观，是每位旅行者一生必游之地。雄奇的山峰、深邃的峡谷与朦胧烟雨交织出诗意的画卷，令每一位到访者心驰神往。神农架——这片大自然眷顾的秘境，拥有北半球中纬度地区唯一保存完好的亚热带原始森林，堪称真正的“伊甸园”！

Here, you will hear some of the most moving stories that capture the essence of this unique place. Qu Yuan, the romantic patriot and poet, tells the story of one man and one festival. Wang Zhaojun, the graceful beauty who brought peace, narrates the story of one woman and two people. Li Shizhen, the pioneering medical expert, and Bi Sheng, the brilliant inventor, share the story of how China has driven the progress of human civilization. The stories of Hubei are truly remarkable and deserve to be heard by a global audience.

在这里，您将听到最动人的故事。浪漫的爱国诗人屈原，讲述着“以一人立一节”的传说；落雁之姿的王昭君，演绎着“一人安两国”的佳话；医药先驱李时珍与活字印刷术发明者毕昇，诉说着中华文明推动人类进步的篇章。湖北的故事值得被世界倾听。

Here in Hubei visitors will encounter some of the world’s most ancient and practices. Wudang Mountain is the birthplace of Tai Chi culture — an ancient philosophy often regarded as the root of Chinese civilization and a source of wisdom for the world. This timeless wisdom continues to thrive in Wudang Kung Fu and traditional Wudang architecture. To me, Wudang Mountain holds the essence of mysteries of the far east.

在这里，您将触摸最古老的智慧。武当山是太极文化的发源地——这一古老哲学被视为中华文明的根基，也是世界共享的智慧源泉。武当武术与传统建筑中流淌的永恒智慧，至今仍在生生不息。对我而言，武当山凝聚着东方秘境的神韵。

My friends,

With such breathtaking landscapes, moving stories, and ancient wisdom, Hubei will undoubtedly become a globally recognized cultural and tourism destination. That I can assure you of.

朋友们，拥有壮美山河、动人故事与千年智慧的湖北，必将成为世界级的文化旅游目的地——这一点我深信不疑。

On this visit to Hubei, I have had the opportunity to experience a fantastic Citywalk.

此行中，我有幸体验了精彩的“Citywalk”。

I’m grateful to my Hubei hosts for their warm hospitality. Last night, I was taken to one of Wuhan’s historic districts, where we indulged in xiaoye, the city’s vibrant late-night food culture. This morning, we continued our culinary journey with “guozao”, a traditional Wuhan-style breakfast at a street-side stall. These authentic experiences are unique to Hubei and should feature prominently in your tourism offer. From reganmian to Wuchang fish and pork rib lotus root soup, the variety of authentic local flavors made this food experience truly unforgettable and gave me yet another reason to fall in love with Wuhan.

感谢湖北东道主的热情款待。昨夜，我探访了武汉的历史街区，沉浸于烟火升腾的“宵夜”文化；今晨，又在街边小店品尝了“过早”——地道的武汉早餐。从热干面、武昌鱼到排骨藕汤，独特的风味体验令人难忘，也让我对武汉的爱更深一分。

At Donghu Lake — the largest urban lake in China — I felt as though I were walking through a living painting with its vibrant and unforgettable colors. The lake reflected the city skyline in a magical way, leaving a lasting impression on me. Here, I witnessed the very essence of not only what makes Hubei and Wuhan special, but also why China is truly an amazing destination for international visitors.

在东湖——中国最大的城中湖，我仿佛行走在一幅流动的画卷中。湖水倒映着城市的天际线，魔幻般的光影令人沉醉。这里不仅凝聚着湖北与武汉的独特魅力，更诠释着中国何以成为全球游客心驰神往的国度。

The Hubei government’s commitment to establishing itself as a globally recognized cultural and tourism destination is indeed perfectly aligned with our mission; and is the reason that I am here today to encourage you to continue this important journey. PATA stand ready to support and work hand-in-hand with you to enhance Hubei’s global visibility and reputation.

湖北建设世界文化旅游目的地的愿景与我们的使命高度契合，这也是我今天来到这里鼓励诸位砥砺前行的重要原因。我们愿与湖北携手，共同提升其全球知名度与美誉度。

Thank you all and I wish you every success in fulfilling the objectives of the 2025 Hubei Culture and Tourism Development Conference!

谢谢大家！预祝2025湖北文化和旅游发展大会圆满成功！