A conference promoting Shanxi tourism was held in Qingdao, a port city in Shandong province on Dec 6, as Shanxi continued its tourism promotion events across China.

Shanxi Provincial Tourism Development Committee introduced local tourist attractions and intangible cultural heritage to Qingdao residents, such as the Yungang Grottoes in Datong and the folk culture of Shanxi merchants.

A staff member promotes Huangcheng Chancellor's House in Jincheng, a complex of buildings constructed for officials in the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911) and now a national scenic spot, at the conference in Qingdao on Dec 6. [Photo/news.cn]

Apart from the landscape and folk customs, a series of preferential policies were promoted to Qingdao locals in order to attract more visitors to Shanxi. Some A-level State-owned tourist attractions, such as Mount Wutai and the Ancient City of Pingyao, will offer a discount of 15 percent for admission tickets sold to tourists from Qingdao, an offer that will continue for the next three years.

With abundant resources and experience in developing the tourism industry, as well as constructing and promoting scenic sites, Qingdao has been a vital partner for Shanxi. The promotion conference will further cooperation on tourism between the two sides and benefit the industry as a whole.

"Shanxi intends to not only promote Shanxi tourism in Qingdao through the event, but also to learn from Qingdao's experiences of developing its own tourist sector," said Cao Xuecheng, vice director of Shanxi Provincial Tourism Development Committee.

Cao Xuecheng, vice director of Shanxi Provincial Tourism Development Committee, delivers a speech at a conference promoting Shanxi tourism in Qingdao on Dec 6. [Photo/news.cn]

Qingdao bureau of tourism and Shanxi Provincial Tourism Development Committee signed a strategic travel agreement during the event. Also, travel agencies of the two sides reached agreements on sending more visitors to each other.

A host interacts with attendees at the promotion conference in Qingdao on Dec 6. [Photo/news.cn]