Jinlinwan tourism town draws couples to take their wedding photos in the lavender fields. [Photo by Wang Jing/China Daily]

Jinlinwan is just part of Qujing that is looking to develop the domestic tourism market.

The Qujing government has taken a series of measures to transform the city into an ecological and culture tourism destination in the last few years.

"Qujing has, in fact, many advantages and natural resources that can help develop its tourism industry," says Dong Baotong, mayor of Qujing.

For example, the city's Nizhuhe Canyon offers idyllic beauty and features hovering golden eagles, karst grottos and cliffs.

"We're now building Qujing into a national forest city to upgrade the environment, and will integrate ecological environment with tourism," Dong says. Visitors can enjoy camping and the wonderful outdoor experiences that Qujing has to offer," Dong says.

The city's many local ethic cultures are also being promoted to attract tourists.

In 2016, the city received 17.3 million visits by travelers, almost double the number in 2012, and the income from tourism was 15.3 billion yuan, Dong says.

Many sports facilities have been established and a number of sporting events have been held to spice up the visitor experience.

The world's Iron Man competition was held in August, and various domestic competitions have been staged in Qujing.

Now, a movie studio is under construction, and Dong believes that many fans will come to see the stars, and travel in Qujing in the interim.

Contact the writers through yangfeiyue@chinadaily.com.cn