The city brand of Quzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, won multiple awards at the fourth International Tourism Communication Forum held in Qionghai, South China's Hainan province, on Nov 23.

Both the city's slogan "Home of Southern Confucianism, Model City of Courtesy" and its cartoon character "Grandpa Nankong" (a cartoon version of Confucius) earned Tourism Communication Awards.

The TC Awards, launched by the Communication University of China and the Tourism Communication Creative Alliance, have been widely recognized by government departments and the tourism industry throughout China.

Quzhou first announced its new brand last year along with a brand logo (a fist-and-palm salute), its cartoon character (Grandpa Nankong), and a mascot (a happy deer).

The city then promoted itself throughout China and the world, touring cities such as Xi'an, Chongqing, Shenyang, and New York.

Quzhou has also launched ads on passenger planes and high-speed trains and broadcast its promotional videos on CCTV. It has hired world badminton champion Huang Yaqiong, a Quzhou native, to serve as its ambassador.

In addition, the Free to Tour Quzhou event also won an award at the forum.

The forum, organized by the Communication University of China, the Tourism, Culture, Broadcasting, TV, and Sports Bureau of Hainan, and the Qionghai municipal government, was attended by more than 1,000 people from China and abroad, including tourism experts, industry elites, and journalists.

Quzhou's brand logo (fist-and-palm salute), mascot (happy deer), and cartoon character (Grandpa Nankong) (from left to right). [Photo/qz96811.com]