An aerial view of Kaihua county in Quzhou, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/WeChat account: quzhoufb]

The 2023 list of China's most beautiful counties, which included 105 county-level cities, counties and districts from all over the country, was released at the 19th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair. Kaihua county from Quzhou, Zhejiang province made the list.

Kaihua county won two national titles: national ecological county and national ecological civilization construction demonstration zone.

The county is also the only in the Yangtze River Delta region to pilot the national park system. It is home to the Qianjiangyuan subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest, which is known as "China's most beautiful forest", and boasts more than 3,600 wildlife species, including the black muntjac, also known as the "southern giant panda".

Kaihua has 13 national 3A-level and above scenic spots, including the Root Palace Buddhist Cultural Tourism Zone and Gutian Mountain. Tourists can also get to 13 national 5A-level scenic spots within a two-hour drive from the county.

The list of China's most beautiful counties is meant to recognize beauty, provide more choices for tourists, and promote regional economic vitalization.

The core criteria for the list's evaluation include abundance of tourism resources and health of the natural environment. The degree of attention paid by local governments to the tourism industry, popularity, and consumer reputation are also important.