A promo event for the coastal city of Lianyungang is held in Beijing on March 19, 2024. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Lianyungang, a coastal city in eastern China's Jiangsu province known as the hometown of the Monkey King, launched a tourism promotional event Tuesday in Beijing.

"Come to Huaguo Mountain in Lianyungang, and you could explore the Water Curtain Cave, the South Gate of the Heaven, and other famous locations in the classic Chinese novel 'Journey to the West,'" said Zhu Xingbo, a local official, when introducing the city at the event.

Legend has it that Ming dynasty (1368-1644) writer Wu Cheng'en saw the cloud-shrouded scene in Huaguo Mountain and hailed it as "really a fairy mountain with flowers and fruit." Later, he wrote "Journey to the West," one of the first romantic mythological novels in ancient China.

Huaguo Mountain, famed as the home to the Monkey King from the novel, was highlighted as the premier choice among three tourist routes at Tuesday's event.

Lianyungang also boasts many cultural relics, including the General Cliff Rock Paintings dating back to 10,000 years ago, the Tenghualuo Prehistoric City Ruins, and the Kongwang Mountain Cliff Statues that are 300 years older than even the Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, Zhu said.

In addition, the city is recognized for six national intangible cultural heritages such as the Huaihai Opera and Donghai crystal carving. Its Donghai county, acclaimed as the "World Craft City" for crystals, is a major global hub for crystal distribution.

A Huaihai Opera is performed during the promo event for the coastal city of Lianyungang in Beijing on March 19, 2024. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Paola Caballero, cultural counselor of the Embassy of El Salvador in China, said she was quite impressed by the city's artistic connection with her country back in 2022. "During the Chinese New Year, Jiangsu Women's National Orchestra presented a wonderful online concert of Chinese traditional music to the people of our country though social media," she said. "The videos brought us not only an enjoyable musical experience, but also some very beautiful views of this city."

Caballero said tourism is a good way for fostering cultural exchange and appreciation between El Salvador and China.

Hosted by the Network of International Culturalink Entities and the Lianyuangang municipal government, Tuesday's event is part of the Chinese culture and tourism global promotional campaign, which was initiated in September 2022.

Another promo event for Lianyungang is scheduled to be held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, in May.

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