With a total of 52 new world heritage sites announced this year, tourism in China has become even more popular. In light of this, an event promoting these new sites to American tourists was launched in New York and San Francisco over the weekend.

The "Beautiful China – Journey Along the World Heritage" event was created by the China National Tourism Administration and included delegates from an unprecedented 18 Chinese provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions.

"From the iconic Great Wall in Beijing to Fujian Province's Kulangsu Settlement, the newest 2017 additions to UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage list, China boasts a long list of must-see attractions," said Wang Xiaofeng, vice chairman of the administration.

Kulangsu, better known as Gulangyu Island in China, is a pedestrian-only island off the coast of Xiamen, Fujian Province in southeastern China. It is renowned for its beaches, winding lanes and varied architecture.

Luo Linquan, consul general of China's Consulate-General in San Francisco, said tourism is an effective way to increase friendship between China and the United States, adding that about 5.32 million people from both countries visited each side in 2016, up 12 percent from the previous year.

"The US has now become China's third-largest source of tourists, with an average 2.1 million people visiting China annually," he said.

More than 3 million Chinese tourists visited the United States in 2016, making it the fourth-largest destination market of China, Luo added.

Ancient Building Complex in Wudang Mountains (1994)
Ancient City of Pingyao (1997)
Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui – Xidi and Hongcun (2000)
Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom (2004)
Classical Gardens of Suzhou (1997, 2000)
Cultural Landscape of Honghe Hani Rice Terraced Fields (2013)
Dazu Stone Carvings (1999)
Fujian Tulou (2008)
Historic Centre of Macao (2005)
Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace, Lhasa (1994, 2000, 2001)
Historic Monuments of Dengfeng in “The Centre of Heaven and Earth” (2010)
Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Beijing and Shenyang (1987, 2004)
Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (2000, 2003, 2004)
Kaiping Diaolou and Villages (2007)
Kulangsu, a Historic International Settlement (2017)
Longmen Grottoes (2000)
Lushan National Park (1996)
Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor (1987)
Mogao Caves (1987)
Mount Qingcheng and the Dujiangyan Irrigation System (2000)
Mount Wutai (2009)
Mountain Resort and its Outlying Temples, Chengde (1994)
Old Town of Lijiang (1997)
Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian (1987)
Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor (2014)
Site of Xanadu (2012)
Summer Palace, an Imperial Garden in Beijing (1998)
Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the Kong Family Mansion in Qufu (1994)
The Temple of Heaven: an Imperial Sacrificial Altar in Beijing (1998)
The Grand Canal (2014)
The Great Wall (1987)
Tusi Sites (2015)
West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou (2011)
Yinxu (2006)
Yungang Grottoes (2001)
Zuojiang Huashan Rock Art Cultural Landscape (2016)

Chengjiang Fossil Site (2012)
China Danxia (2010)
Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area (1992)
Hubei Shennongjia (2016)
Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area (1992)
Mount Sanqingshan National Park (2008)
Qinghai Hoh Xil (2017)
Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries - Wolong, Mt Siguniang and Jiajin Mountains (2006)
South China Karst (2007,2014)
Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas (2003)
Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area (1992)
Xinjiang Tianshan (2013

Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area (1996)
Mount Huangshan (1990)
Mount Taishan (1987)
Mount Wuyi (1999)