Shanxi province holds a tourism promotion event in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on May 2. [Photo/people.com.cn]

The Government of Shanxi Province hosted an event in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on May 2, as part of a promotional tour to showcase the province's tourist attractions.

Shanxi aims to develop itself into a major international tourist destination, and the provincial government is currently promoting the province around the world.

"As a major cradle of Chinese civilization, Shanxi is a place full of culture and history with various historical sites and natural landscapes, including the famous Great Wall and Yellow River," said Zhang Fuming, vice-governor of Shanxi province, at the promotion event in Rio.

"Shanxi also boasts several UNESCO World Heritage sites such as Mount Wutai, Yungang Grottoes and the Ancient City of Pingyao," he added.

In 2017, nearly one million foreign tourists visited Shanxi, proving the province has real potential to attract visitors from all over the world.

Shanxi Provincial Tourism Development Commission signs a memorandum of cooperation with the tourism department of the government of Rio de Janeiro. [Photo/people.com.cn]

To strengthen tourism links between Shanxi and Rio de Janeiro, Shanxi Provincial Tourism Development Commission signed a memorandum of cooperation with the tourism department of the government of Rio de Janeiro at the event, committing both sides to promoting each other as key tourist destinations. They also agreed to attend each other's respective tourism promotion events, such as expos and fairs.

According to the details of the memorandum, the two sides will focus on integrating tourist information, improving management of tourism sites, and supporting the development of tourism products.

The memorandum also encourages travel businesses in both countries to build links with each other.

So far, Shanxi has started work on 184 tourism projects worth 247.7 billion yuan ($39.04 billion), with a focus on developing tourism brands featuring the Great Wall, Yellow River and Taihang Mountains.

Over the coming years the province hopes to improve travel services, attract more foreign visitors and improve their travel experiences.