Officials in China's Shaanxi Province have invited travel agents from western Japan to experience the area's charms.



About 30 people took part in the tour, including representatives from travel companies in Japan's Fukuoka Prefecture.



It is part of a wider effort to promote tourism in both directions. Shaanxi and Fukuoka are linked by direct flights.



The tour's first stop was at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor in Xi'an. The UNESCO World Heritage site is home to an army of life-size terracotta warriors.



A local tour guide briefed the Japanese visitors on the archaeological site, including the methods being used to restore it.



They then attended a seminar where a senior local government official made a pitch. The official said that with direct flights between Fukuoka and Shaanxi, there are "infinite possibilities" for bilateral cultural cooperation.



Chinese and Japanese travel agencies also held business talks, introducing local attractions and discussing tours aimed at Japanese travelers.



China has been struggling to encourage Japanese tourists to return since the coronavirus pandemic. Officials in Xi'an say about 95,000 visited the city in 2019, but the figure last year stood at around 11,000.



Observers note that a full-blown recovery will depend on addressing various challenges, such as improving Japan-China relations and alleviating safety concerns among Japanese visitors.



One Japanese travel agency employee said that after walking around the sightseeing spots, he didn't feel there were any problems with public security. He said he wants to get to work quickly on putting together tour packages that showcase what the area has to offer.