In early July, a total of 12 cities in China were identified as having significant potential for cultural and tourism development. These cities encompass a diverse range of regions, including Zigong in Sichuan province, Weihai in Shandong province, Xinzhou in Shanxi province, Yichang in Hubei province, Honghe Hani and Yi autonomous prefecture in Yunnan province, and Qinhuangdao in Hebei province.

The selection of these cities was conducted by the Liaowang Institute, affiliated with the Xinhua News Agency, in collaboration with the Institute for Contemporary China Studies at Tsinghua University.