Southwest China's Guizhou province is working toward developing itself into a popular place for mountain tourism, especially for international hiking enthusiasts.

A ceremony on International Mountain Tourism Day was held in Kathmandu, Nepal on May 29, which was co-hosted by the provincial government of Guizhou, the International Mountain Tourism Alliance, the Nepali national tourism administration, and the Nepali travel agency association.

Guests announce the launching of International Mountain Tourism Day by cutting a ribbon at the ceremony. [Photo/gog.cn]

The ceremony affirmed that every May 29 will be International Mountain Tourism Day, which is also the day that humans first climbed the peak of Qomolangma, also known as Mount Everest, in 1953.

The event aims to improve awareness of mountainous resources protection efforts and to advocate an active lifestyle, promoting the sustainable development of mountainous tourism.

"Mountain tourism has become an important propeller for the international tourism industry. Guizhou and Nepal have held several mountainous tourism activities over the past year and we hope to have more exchanges with the country in the future," said Zheng Xu, leader of the Guizhou delegation, at the event.

Zheng Xu, leader of the Guizhou delegation at the event, gives a speech at the ceremony. [Photo/gog.cn]