Baoding in North China's Hebei province has launched a tourism route stretching almost 3,000 kilometers, connecting neighboring Beijing and the Xiong'an New Area with its scenic spots.

Baoding is about 150 kilometers southwest of downtown Beijing. It's an ancient town and boasts an abundance of tourist destinations, including Great Wall sites and several natural attractions like Baishi Mountain and Yishui Lake. A tourism highlight is the Western Qing Tombs, the last imperial tomb complex of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

The new scenic road, the No 1 Tourism Scenic Route, links the cultural and tourism destinations together, providing a top choice for tourists wanting to see Beijing and the surrounding region. The route was unveiled during an investment conference in Baoding earlier this month.

Xu Ke, head of the city's tourism organ, said the route will inject new energy into developing the city's tourism industry.

"It will accelerate our work in improving the quality and efficiency of tourism services and promote the comprehensive upgrading of the tourism industry," she said.