Fashion and culture draw Chinese tourists to Italy

Major cities offer plethora of shopping options, and a healthy dose of romance

Italy has long been a favored European destination for Chinese tourists, lured by its rich history, unique culture, high-end fashion and availability of luxury brands.

Driven by the 2015 Milan World Expo, the number of Chinese travelers to Italy reached its zenith last year, with 3.3 million arrivals, a 45 percent increase from the year before, making China now the fourth most important inbound market for Italy, after Germany, the United States and France, according to the Italian National Institute of Statistics.