Huangshan, a city in eastern China's Anhui province and home to the world-famous Mount Huangshan, is set to usher in an era of innovative development while contributing to building a Beautiful China, a local official said Wednesday.

The city has witnessed a tourism boom this year. The latest data shows that the Mount Huangshan Scenic Area has received more than 4 million tourists so far in 2023, as have its UNESCO World Heritage villages of Xidi and Hongcun. 

Ling Yun, Party secretary of Huangshan, emphasized that the city is dedicated to showing there is more to it than the famed mountain, and various measures have been put in place to boost tourism, its traditional Hui culture, entrepreneurship and international communication.

The 2023 Innovative Huangshan Development Conference is held in Huangshan, Anhui province, Nov. 15, 2023. [Photo/China.org.cn]

At the 2023 Innovative Huangshan Development Conference, which was convened Wednesday in Huangshan, Ling invited entrepreneurs and investors from all over the world to come to the city, pursue their dreams here and work together for shared prosperity.

The municipal government also released a list of development opportunities for Huangshan at the conference based on its supply and demand, covering high-end services, advanced manufacturing, digital applications, modern logistics, health care and other sectors.

Qiao Biao, vice president of China Center for Information Industry Development, said Huangshan's industrial system has always focused on green-oriented development. It has fostered an array of competitive enterprises in auto parts, eco-friendly flexible packaging, digital creative industry, health care and green food, providing strategic support for the development of the Yangtze River Delta region, he added.

Feng Jianguang, chairman of the Shanghai Yangtze River Delta Regional Elderly Service Center and president of the Zhiku Elderly Care Research Institute, said a preliminary survey on elderly care institutions across the Yangtze River Delta region showed that Huangshan is one of the most favored cities by elderly people.

As the integration of the Yangtze River Delta region continues to advance, Huangshan has great potential to emerge as a new driving force for the high-quality and coordinated development of the elderly care industry in the region, he said.

A total of 79 projects in fields such as new energy, automotive electronics, smart manufacturing and Huizhou-style architecture were inked at this year's Huangshan Development Conference, with combined investment hitting 22.81 billion yuan ($3.15 billion).

During the conference, an international communication forum was also held for the first time to pool strength for promoting the city's development. More than 120 government officials, experts, scholars and representatives of businesses and media outlets gathered at the forum, exploring ways to help Huangshan and its local Hui culture reach a wider audience all over the world.

Adrien Brill, an American expat who has been living in Huangshan since 2016, spoke about his enthusiasm for his second hometown during an interview at the forum. "It's a beautiful place, with great mountains and clear waters; quite a good place to live and hang out," he said.

Adrien Brill, an American expat who has been living in Huangshan since 2016, speaks to China.org.cn during an interview on the sidelines of the First Greater Huangshan International Communication Forum in Huangshan, Anhui province, Nov. 15, 2023. [Photo/China.org.cn]

For Brill, Huangshan is unique compared with other places in China, as it boasts ancient Huizhou-style architecture dating back to the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, as well as many well-preserved ancient villages.

Also a foodie, Brill opened a pizzeria in Huangshan's Nanxinan village this summer. He even took an innovative approach to making pizza, by using smelly mandarin fish and stinky tofu — both famous local delicacies — as toppings. The pizzeria has become a big hit both with consumers and on Chinese social media.

Brill said he hopes that his pizza restaurant will become a cozy place for people from different cultures to share their traditions and enjoy themselves.

Now living a happy and contented life in Huangshan, Brill said he would like to share his stories here with more people and help them learn more about this beautiful city.

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