A special tourism route based on morning tea that links Nantong urban area and Rugao, a county-level city of Nantong, is launched on Oct 24. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

The launching ceremony for a special route on which tourists can enjoy morning tea that links Nantong urban area and Rugao, a county-level city of Nantong, was held in the Rugao World of Plantings on Oct 24.

The launch of the morning tea special line is part of the ninth "Hometown of Longevity, Poetic Town" Tourism and Culture Festival. Taking advantage of the influence brought by its reputation as the hometown of longevity and positioning morning tea, which is distinctive in longevity culture, as a media draw, Rugao is promoting the upgrading of its tourism industry and stimulating its economic development.

The special route highlights tasting of delicate teas and introduces visitors to featured breakfasts, providing them with a unique experience in morning tea and longevity culture.

In recent years, Rugao has built a platform integrating leisure tourism and health preservation through various cultural and travel activities. The annual tourism and culture festival effectively showcases Rugao's exquisite landscapes and rich culture as a "China Excellent Tourism City", further expanding its influence.

In 2019, domestic and overseas tourists made over 15.8 million trips to Rugao, a year-on-year growth of 18.2 percent, bringing with them revenue of 19 billion yuan ($2.8 billion), up 21.4 percent.

Now, the city has two national 4A-level scenic areas, nine 3A-level ones, and one provincial five-star rural tourism area, as well as four four-star and 11 three-star areas. With boutique travel routes featuring longevity, an ancient town, rural leisure and red culture, Rugao is growing into a vital destination in the Yangtze River Delta region.