Online influencers promote Pingyao's image

Some 20 online influencers from across China visited Pingyao county in North China's Shanxi province on July 9-11 – in a major promotional event designed to raise the profile of the region.

Hosted by the publicity department of the CPC Pingyao Committee, the event invited the online celebrities to learn more about the place, showcasing to millions of netizens Pingyao's new image and its achievements.

The idea was for them to explore the integrated development of its culture and tourism, its economic transformation and development of beautiful rural tourist attractions, as well as its villages, enterprises and cultural tourism projects.

"The protection of the traditional landscape amid the upgrading and transformation of the Ancient City of Pingyao impressed me, because it looked the same as when I came more than 10 years ago," said Huang Shengyou, a member of the China Folklore Photographic Association and famous military blogger. 

The well-preserved ancient county government office site, the Rishengchang Exchange Shop which pioneered the Chinese banking industry, as well as the ancient villages and beautiful modern villages also left a deep impression on the visitors.

As of July 12, blogs and articles themed around Pingyao's socioeconomic development and updated by online celebrities participating in the event had garnered 220 million hits and 15,000 comments.