Asian media find new focus in Yulin

Yao Ying (left), head of China Daily's feature department, talks with Zhang Haifeng (right), deputy mayor of Yulin, Shaanxi province, on Sep 25, 2016. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

Nineteen reporters from 13 mainstream media organizations in Asia participated in a three-day press tour in Yulin, Northwest China's Shaanxi province, from Sept 25 to 27.

Reporters and photographers from India, Thailand, Malaysia, Pakistan and other countries and regions, took a look at the northernmost city of Shaanxi province by visiting local companies, historic sites and natural scenic spots.

The event is held by China Daily and the Yulin municipal government, as part of China Daily's "Discover China" campaign, which aims to provide a window for introducing Chinese cities to the world.

"We hope the reporters and photographers will find Yulin's advantages and potential though this trip and let people know more about Yulin," Zhang Haifeng, the city's deputy mayor said during a meeting with the participants on Sunday.

Zhang explained that Yulin is trying to build itself into one of the most important cities along the Silk Road Economic Belt, which is part of the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013.

Participants of the press tour take a photo with the city's deputy mayor, Zhang Haifeng on Sept 25, 2016. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

"We will spare no efforts in building Yulin into a tourism destination featuring the?Belt and Road Initiative and make tourism and cultural industry the new highlight of strategic cooperation with foreign countries," Zhang said.

"I hope you can present a real Yulin to Asia and the world through your experience, words, photographs and your mainstream media platforms to build a bridge of communication and exchanges for Yulin and neighboring Asian countries," Yao Ying, director of China Daily's feature department, said.

With a long history and rich culture, Yulin was first founded in the Spring and Autumn period and Warring States period more than 2,000 years ago. It grew prosperously during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It used to be the location of Yansui County, or Yulin County, one of the nine most strategic counties along the border during the Ming Dynasty, and enjoyed the reputation of being a "little Beijing".

Yulin is also ranked as one of the top ten cities with the most potential to create wealth in China and a model city for new energy. It has bountiful resources of energy and minerals. The city is known as China's Kuwait thanks to its Shenfu coal field, one of the seven biggest coal mines worldwide, and the Shanganning gas field, which has the largest proven uncompartmentalized inland natural gas reservation.