Chinese City Eyes More Western Tourists

Berlin: China's picturesque, Hangzhou city, has showcased its beautiful landscapes and cultural charm at an international travel expo here in a bid to attract more European visitors. Hangzhou's Vice Mayor, Zhang Jianting, has appealed to tourist officials and travel agents to better appreciate the city, dubbed "a paradise on earth". China's participation at the International Tourism Exchange (ITB) March 7-11, the world's leading travel and trade show, coincides with the 2012 Chinese Cultural Year in Germany, Xinhua reported. Hangzhou not only aims to bolster the city's image but also to enhance links and partnership with Germany and Europe, Zhang said. The eastern city of Hangzhou was listed among the world's top 41 tourist destination by The New York Times last year. It boasts the beautiful West Lake, the Xixi wetlands, the Grand Canal and folklore, among other attractions. The city has been hailed as the "Capital of Leisure" by the World's Leisure Organization, in addition to the title of "China's Best Tour City" conferred by the World's Tourism Organization, said Zhang. He added that the city received over three million foreign tourists and 70 million domestic visitors in 2011.