A rural folk dance is performed at the Lishi district tourism promotion meeting in Lyuliang on Aug 3. [Photo/Xinhua]

The Lishi district of Lyuliang promoted its rural tourism brand in Taiyuan, capital of Shanxi province, on Aug 3 with featured folk music and dance performances showcasing the district's unique culture and attractions.

The event also saw agreements signed between travel agencies and tourist attractions in the Lishi district, such as the Pacific International Travel Service and Qiannian tourist attraction, and the Shanxi Guangda Tourism Co and Xinshanwan Mountain Villa.

The Lishi district has been developing tourism as a pillar industry over recent years by focusing on promoting rural tourism. More than 5,800 people in the district have been employed in the tourism industry.

The Taiyuan-Lyuliang Direct Express launched in April 2017 also helped to drive tourism in the district. From January to July 2017, the Lishi district received more than 2.9 million visitors, a year-on-year growth of 42.6 percent, and generated 3.15 billion yuan ($468.88 million) in tourism revenue, up 33.2 percent year on year.