The New York Times has added Guizhou Province to its list of 52 places around the world that are worth visiting in 2016, putting Guizhou at number 44, China Daily reported.
According to the report, Guizhou was cited for the "authentic Chinese hill tribes without mass tourism," adding that it "has long been one of China's least accessible regions, but is starting to open more widely to tourism," based on the list that came out on Jan. 7.
Aside from Guizhou, Hangzhou also joins the annual list.
The New York Times said that compared to other places with similar characteristics in China, Guizhou was also chosen for its "unhurried pace and authentic feel" as well as the convenience of improved transportation and the ethnic cultural festivals. The paper also mentioned the top hotels in Guizhou's capital, Guiyang.
Top in the list is Mexico City, which was described as "a metropolis that has it all," followed by Bordeaux, France, in second place, referred to as "an ancient wine region getting a stunning update."
In 2010, Shanghai and Shenzhen became the first two Chinese cities to join the list, the report said.
The report added that the global tourism market and the opinions of tourism specialists were taken into consideration by the compilers of the list. They deliberated on the feedback of Internet users who have given the province a thumbs-up, with one commenting, "The breathtaking mountain and water views are beautiful especially in summer," while another noted, "the ethnic customs are worth going to see alongside the views."
According to the report, the province's tourism resources have gradually contributed to the government's drive to boost transportation and the economy, with tourism income in 2013 reaching a total of 289.5 billion yuan ($44.05 billion), or 22.2 percent higher than the previous year, and 350 billion yuan this past year, or triple the 2010 figure.