The "Nihao! China" Asian Tour Operators' China Trip entered its Hengyang stop on August 25.

During the three-day Hengyang trip, 37 tour operators from 10 Asian countries, including Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka, carried out in-depth investigations around Hengyang, and held a match-making and exchange meeting on Hengyang's inbound tourism market. 

As "China Travel" becomes a buzzword around the world this summer, a large number of foreign travelers have flocked to China, touring around the country instead of just the big cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou.

Hengyang has grasped the opportunity to build itself into a powerhouse of inbound tourism and an international tourist destination. Hengyang welcomed the delegation of Asian tour operators, whose trip was coordinated by the Asian Affairs Division of the Bureau of International Exchanges and Cooperation of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Trip Group.

The foreign guests immersed themselves in Hengshan Mountain, appreciating the stunning natural landscapes; visited Shigu Academy, exploring the profound culture passed down from antiquity; and touring the Hunan Industrial Culture Block now under construction, experiencing the charm of industrial civilization. At the promotion meeting, the guests received a briefing from municipal leaders on Hengyang's tourism resources, and tasted the unique local cuisine.

"I had not known there was such stunning scenery in China until I came to Hengyang," said a tour operator from Indonesia. 

"Hengyang is an energetic city, with a unique 'Shou (longevity)' culture. The air is fresh and clean, suitable for leisure and fitness," said Goh Hock Gin from Malaysia.

The guests experienced Hengyang's rich tourism resources and profound culture and history, and were invited to join in developing cultural and tourist products and routes with Hengyang characteristics and international competitiveness.

"Compared with big cities like Beijing and Shanghai, Hengyang features a slower city rhythm which is suitable for travel routes that offer a sense of slowing down and calming down," said a Japanese tour operator who has lived in Shanghai for years. 

"I hope that there will be more international air routes and chartered flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City of Vietnam to Hengyang," said a Vietnam tourism charted flight service provider.

"I will post on social media and plan for more travel routes of Hengyang after I return home, to promote this beautiful city to the world," said a guest from Sri Lanka. He posted a vlog of Hengyang's picturesque scenery on TikTok. 

This article is from the Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Pang Yuehui

Chinese source: hunantoday