Tourists from Southeast Asia watch an intangible cultural heritage show in Taiyuan Ancient County on June 3. [Photo/Shanxi Evening News] 

More than 100 tourists from Southeast Asia arrived in Taiyuan, capital of North China's Shanxi province, on June 3.

On the day, the Shanxi Department of Culture and Tourism and the Taiyuan municipal bureau of culture and tourism held a welcome ceremony in the local Taiyuan Ancient County. 

This is the first large foreign tourist group received by Taiyuan this year, and it is also a concrete practice for Taiyuan to strengthen cultural exchanges and cooperation with Southeast Asia. 

Tourists visited local scenic areas, tasted exceptional food, watched intangible cultural heritage performances, and enjoyed the city's night view.

Southeast Asian countries are important tourist source markets for Shanxi. Over the years, the province has combined its cultural tourism resources to design and launch various tourist products suitable for Southeast Asian tourists. 

"Shanxi is one of the birthplaces of Chinese civilization. Many overseas Chinese in Singapore are generally impressed and cordial to Shanxi. The visit to Shanxi is like going home. There are many overseas Chinese in this group," said Li Liangyi, chairman of Singapore Huayun Tourism Co. 

The tourist group from Southeast Asia poses for a photo in Taiyuan Ancient County on June 3. [Photo/Yellow River News]

On the same day, representatives of the Taiyuan municipal bureau of culture and tourism and travel agencies also discussed with Singapore Huayun Tourism Co for cooperation. 

The bureau held a ceremony marking the establishment of Taiyuan Tourism Promotion Center in Singapore at the Singapore Huayun Tourism Co, based in the Southeast Asian country. 

The center is Taiyuan's first overseas promotion center in Singapore, aiming to publicize Taiyuan's cultural tourism resources, expand its popularity, influence and overseas tourism market, and attract more tourists to Taiyuan and Shanxi.

The Southeast Asian tourist group will be on an eight-day tour in Shanxi, with the first and second stops in Datong and Taiyuan. During this period, the group will visit the well-known scenic spots in five cities from north to south, appreciating Shanxi's scenery, long history, and splendid culture.