A child bows in front of a statue of Confucius in Quzhou, which is home to his descendants. [Photo/qz96811.com]

Quzhou in East China's Zhejiang province has been shortlisted as a pilot city to promote culture and tourism consumption in Zhejiang, according to a list published by the provincial department of culture and tourism on July 22.

The "Home of Southern Confucianism, a Model City of Virtue" brand has been well promoted in China, which, in turn, has improved the reputation of the city among Chinese people.

Its Free to Tour Quzhou event has attracted more than 12.07 million tourists from home and abroad to the city over the past four years, generating 13.53 billion yuan ($1.93 billion) in revenue for the local cultural and tourism sector.

Based on its rich history as well as abundant natural and built landscapes, Quzhou has created a gold card for its tourism sector – "Four Good Things in Quzhou", which refers to concerts, delicacies, scenic views and sports events.

The city has also launched an online tourism platform where visitors can make reservations for local attractions, search for travel tips, and make real-time inquiries about tourist numbers at local scenic spots.

Kaihua county in Quzhou was also shortlisted for the title of pilot county to promote culture and tourism consumption in Zhejiang.

The county has maintained two-digit increases in the number of tourists and tourism revenue over the past 10 years. In 2019, the value-added output of the tourism sector in Kaihua totaled 1.56 billion yuan, accounting for 10.66 percent of regional GDP.

The Root Palace Buddhist Cultural Tourism Zone, a 5A-level scenic spot in Kaihua, is the only root theme park in the world. [Photo/qz96811.com]