Chengdu launches tourism alliance to highlight its assets internationally

Chengdu is a city full of culture and charm, said Baptiste Cassagnolle, an 18-year-old from Montpellier, France during the recent "Global Travel Merchants Gathering in Chengdu" event.

Together with Cassagnolle, more than 200 participants, including social media influencers and representatives of tourism organizations from all over the world, witnessed the establishment of the Chengdu Inbound Tourism Strategic Partnership Alliance and the launch of the first International Network Panda Festival.

Several of the guests were invited to experience Chengdu's popular tourism routes, which connect the most famous scenic spots in the city.

Foreign professionals cook dishes at a recent promotional event for the culture and tourism of Chengdu. [Photo provided to China Daily]

They explored Chengdu's long history at Dujiangyan Irrigation System, Jiezi Ancient Town, and Qiongyao Archeological Site Park, enjoyed the natural scenery in Qingcheng Mountain, as well as experienced the city's urban prosperity in the Taikoo Li shopping area.

Cassagnolle showed great interest in Chengdu's rich and unique culture. In Dongmen Block, a newly built tourism area in Chengdu, he tried to pour tea by using the long-spouted copper teapot and drank tea served in covered tea-sets, which is a local custom.

During his trip, Cassagnolle took pictures and shot videos to share with his followers on TikTok and Instagram. He has more than 412,000 followers on TikTok.

Qingcheng Mountain left a deep impression on Cassagnolle. Boasting picturesque scenery, the area inspired scenes in the Kung Fu Panda movies.

At the event, Cassagnolle was elected as a Chengdu tourism global ambassador. He will utilize his social media influence to boost Chengdu's culture and tourism.

A man imitates gestures of a Kung Fu Panda sculpture in Chengdu. [Photo provided to China Daily]

"After returning to France, I will share this trip with my relatives and friends, and take them to Chengdu in the future," Cassagnolle said.

"The local food is better than Japanese food," said Kuroki Shinji, another ambassador from Japan who fell in love with Sichuan cuisine.

Local people live a leisurely and relaxing life, which is very attractive to both domestic and foreign tourists, said Ren Ronggui, assistant to the chief representative of the China Representative Office of the Moroccan National Tourist Office.

With unique cultural heritages like Dufu Thatched Cottage and Wuhou Shrine Museum, the city is quite competitive in terms of its cultural tourism, Ren added.

"Everything I have visited so far has been fantastic," said Murtaza Kalender, a Turkish travel agent who came to Chengdu for the first time.

Kalender also praised Chengdu residents, noting that "people here are very friendly and hospitable, and we all feel at home."

Kalender's company plans to bring 50,000 foreign tourists to China within three to four years and Chengdu will be one of the destinations.

"Southwest China must be the key area of China's inbound tourism in the future," said Liu Huiyuan, general manager of the inbound tourism department of China Tourism Group Travel Service.

Connecting Yunnan, Guizhou, and Tibet autonomous region, Chengdu is located at the center of Southwest China.

The magnificent natural scenery and ethnic customs in this area is attrictive to overseas tourists, Liu said.

Considering the increasing proportion of young people among the inbound tourists, the company will be committed to developing a series of tourism products like mountain hiking and low-altitude tourism, according to Liu.

Fu Yan, the head of sales and marketing solutions at TripAdvisor in China, said that Chengdu had advantages in both geography and culture, adding that the Belt and Road Initiative creates a great development opportunity for inbound tourism in Chengdu.

"Statistics show that the average stay of inbound tourists in Chengdu exceeds three days, indicating they have a pleasant experience in the city," Fu said.

Chengdu is among the first batch of famous historical and cultural cities in China designated by the government. In 2006, Chengdu was selected as China's Best Tourism City by the National Tourism Administration and World Tourism Organization.

From January this year, travelers from 53 countries with a valid flight ticket to a third country or region in six days can enter and stay in Chengdu for 144 hours without a visa.

Since Dec 1, the 144-hour visa-free stay area has expanded to include another 10 cities, including Leshan, Deyang, and Suining.

As of the end of November, Chengdu had opened 122 international air routes connecting five continents.

Chengdu is accelerating the construction of Tianfu International Airport and building an international aviation hub with an annual passenger throughput of 150 million, said local officials.