Mr Zheng Tongyang, Director-General, Tourism Administration Guangdong Province emphasised the strong relationship between the province’s largest city of Guangzhou and Sydney during a tourism promotion and dinner in the Sheraton on the Park last evening.
[Pictured: Mr Zheng Tongyang, leader of the delegation to Sydney]
The function followed the province’s participation in Chinese New Year celebrations in Sydney yesterday afternoon.
More than 900 performers, artists, support staff and government officials came from Guangzhou Province especially for the festivities to mark the Chinese Year of the Pig.
Many of the government officials participated in the more formal three hour tourism forum that followed the parade.
Presentations were made by senior tourism officials from seven major cities in Guangdong Province including Guangzhou, a sister city to Sydney since 1985.
A popular destination with Australians, 2200 year old Guangzhou attracted some 100 million tourists last year because of its historic, gastronomic, shopping and natural scenery.
Guangzhou is preparing to host the 3rd Guangdong International Tourism and Culture Festival in Guangzhou and several other centres in the province in late November.
[Pictured: Chinese Opera with a youthful difference.]
Sponsored by the China National Tourism Administration and the People’s Government of Guangdong Province, the week long festival is designed to promote international tourism exchanges and to share the essence of the province’s local culture.
During the evening, tourism presentations were punctuated with a series of cultural presentations including a stand out selection of Chinese Opera performed by a trio of young artists.
Report by Thomas E. King, TravelMole’s Travel & Lifestyle Editor
