by Nick Ni and Austin
Los Angeles—Shandong Center, a tourism promotion project by Shandong Provincial Tourism Development Commission, opened on December 6 in Los Angeles with an eye towards closer ties between Shandong, a coastal province of China, and California.
Shandong, the birth place of Confucius, is rich in cultural heritage and tourist resources. With a direct flight from Jinan, the capitol city of Shandong, to LAX, Shandong is poised to become another destination of American tourists.
“We will meet more and more friends from Shandong. And our American friends are welcome to Shandong to experience the unique Qilu culture,” said Mr. Lu Qiang, the director of the brand new Shandong Center.
“I am very excited to witness the opening of Shandong Center in Los Angeles, and the initiation of the direct flight between Jinan and Los Angeles,”said Mr. Li Xinyun, the chief trade representative of Shandong in the U.S. who came from New York to attend the ceremony. “The tourist exchanges between Shandong and Los Angeles will be furthered thanks to the establishment of this promotion center.”
Jennifer Liu, China market development manager of Beverly Hills Conference and Visitors Bureau, extended her welcome to visitors from Shandong, and invited them to tour Beverly Hills, home to Hollywood stars and destination for shopping and dining.
Jennifer Liu, along with Mr. Ding Ning, the co-chair of US Chinese Industry and Commerce Association, will serve as honorary director of the center.
Local elected officials and community leaders including Peter Chan, the council member of Monterey Park, Zhang Sujiu, Xu Chengwu, Kang Jiachen, Lu Zhanxin, Dong Fuxin, Wu Jinhui and Lu Xia attended the ceremony.
