With international tourism coming back to life, New York was the audience for a virtual event promoting China's majestic Mount Huangshan.

China's Huangshan Tourism Development Co Ltd hosted the online event Friday with the theme "Creative Huangshan, Gorgeous Huizhou”.

In the past two years, COVID-19 pandemic restrictions have brought unprecedented challenges to cultural and tourism exchanges between China and the US, but it cannot stop people's aspirations for a happy life and their zeal to understand each other better via tourism, said China's Consul General in New York Huang Ping.

The event was "the first tourism promotion event held in New York (with China) since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. It also marks the recovery of tourism and people-to-people exchanges between China and the US,” said Huang.

"We appreciate the event for restoring the city's cultural and economic vibrancy from the pandemic crisis by helping people become united,” said New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio in a letter presented at the event.

"We value initiatives that promote tourism, travel, and culture between New York and other nations, which is important to rebuilding and reopening our economy in the post-pandemic era,” said New York Governor Kathy Hochul in a letter.

The dialogue among representatives of the travel and tourism industries from New York and Huangshan can open networks of communication and progress, she said.

"I look forward to continuing to strengthen our culture, social, and economic ties in the future,” Hochul said.

Peter Koo, a member of the New York City Council and a Chinese American said that people in the US should visit Huangshan ("Yellow Mountain” in Chinese) when they get an opportunity.

Ling Yun, the secretary of the Huangshan Municipal Party Committee said that Mount Huangshan, designated as a UNESCO Cultural and Natural Heritage Site in 1990, continues to attract visitors from around the globe, drawn by its endless charm, vitality and potential.

Sun Yong, mayor of Huangshan city, said the Yellow Mountains are the epitome of cultural China. He said he sincerely hopes US tourists will visit the mountains, to explore more of its unique pine trees and rocks, sea of the clouds, hot springs, and the winter snow, as well as the Huizhou culture.

Located in East China's Anhui province, the Mount Huangshan range is famous for its magnificent scenery of granite peaks, rocks, pine trees, and sunrises and sunsets amid clouds.

Six Americans shared their experiences in Huangshan, such as making mandarin fish and drinking Qimen black tea. Hundreds joined virtually and participated in quizzes about Huangshan and expressed their hope to visit the Yellow Mountains in the future.