Yantai, a coastal city in Shangdong province, which is known for its seaside, fruit and climate and the thousands of tourists who come here every year, began promoting its image, on July 12, in faraway Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu province, as a top place to visit, live and work, as part of its national branding campaign.

This campaign stop, the third and last, is a key project of Yantai this year to strengthen its relations with other Chinese cities and it hopes to work with them in tourism, housing, and business for mutual benefits in marketing and information sharing.

A tourism official says that Yantai has placed advertisements in 11 cities covering the north, northeast and northwest parts of China, at high-speed railway stations, airports, bus terminals, and other places to convey an image of a beautiful and charming city and has plans to go to continue the promotion in as many as 30 cities over the next three years to spread its message across China.

The same day of the promotion, the city announced a direct flight connecting Yantai and Lanzhou, which is expected to bring the two cities closer and promote economic cooperation and trade.

Yantai is one of in China's first 14 coastal cities to open to the outside and a strategic part of the Belt and Road Initiative and important for a China-South Korea free trade zone. And it ranks 20th in China in trade volume and has gotten the "United Nation Habitat", "Most Glamorous City", and "Beautiful Leisure City" awards and the "China Gold Medal City" for its investment environment.

Yantai promoted its image, on July 12, in Lanzhou, Gansu province, as a top place to visit, live and work, as part of its national branding campaign. [Photo/ Yantai Municipal Government]

Li Ming, deputy director of Yantai Publicity Department, makes a speech to show the beautiful Yantai and its development in the promotion event. [Photo/ Yantai Municipal Government]

Mou Yun, deputy director of Yantai Tourism Bureau, in the promotion event in Lanzhou on July 12. [Photo/ Yantai Municipal Government]