The 2017 International Conference of Mountain Tourism and Outdoor Sports will open in Xingyi, Qianxinan Bouyei and Miao autonomous prefecture, from Aug 15 to 16.

More than 1,200 athletes and visitors from 29 countries and regions will participate in the event, which offers activities such as hiking, a dragon dance competition and rally races for attendees to enjoy.

The conference will facilitate the establishment of the International Mountain Tourism Alliance and host a series of forums on the development of mountain tourism and outdoor sports.

Xingyi will serve as the main venue for the conference, with seven other counties in the prefecture also hosting parallel activities. Other cities in Guizhou province will host activities to gain popularity from the conference through the end of the year.

As China's only State-level outdoor sports conference, the event aims to promote the sustainable development of mountain tourism, and encourage cooperation within the industry to alleviate regional poverty through tourism.

Qianxinan has hosted the international conference for three consecutive years since 2015. The event has become an important platform for the prefecture to showcase its rich tourism resources and economic development through mountain tourism.

Cyclists participate in a mountain bike competition during last year's International Conference of Mountain Tourism and Outdoor Sports held in Qianxinan. [Photo/xinhuanet.com]