The ITB Berlin travel trade show opened at the Berlin Exhibition Grounds, Germany on March 5, 2024, local time. China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism organized more than ten provinces, municipalities, tourism enterprises, and airlines to participate in the event. Themed "Welcome to Charming Hunan", the booth of the Hunan delegation showcased unique charm of culture, history, and natural landscapes of the province. 

Foreign visitors learn the techniques of making dough sculptures, an intangible cultural heritage item of Hunan Province. 

The ITB Berlin travel trade show is one of the world's largest comprehensive exhibitions in the tourism sector. This year the three-day event brought together exhibitors from more than 180 countries and regions. At the booth of Hunan delegation, dough sculptures attracted much attention from international visitors. Inheritors of dough figurines engaged warmly with the visitors, extending heartfelt invitations to them to explore the diverse folk culture and beautiful scenery of Hunan, savor authentic Hunan food, and experience the hospitality of the local people. 

A panoramic view of the booth of Chinese delegation. 

Tourism exchanges between China and Germany have developed steadily over the years. According to statistics, the tourism visits from Germany to Hunan in 2023 reached 12,800, a year-on-year increase of 226.3%, ranking third in the European Union.

This article is from the Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Xiao Juan

Chinese source: official WeChat account of Hunan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism