12 suzhouspecial FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011 CHINA DAILY

Suzhou extols expos and conventions By MA ZHENHUAN The city recently witnessed a around Jinji Lake in the choosing their MICE destination. long-term sustainable develop- expo enterprises in promoting the AND ZHOU FURONG remarkable improvement in tour- Industrial Park,” he added. “For example, when host- ment,” Chen said. MICE sector, Suzhou has a good ism service standards due to eff orts David Zhong, publisher of the ing MICE activities, enterprises If the local government can chance to become the third-largest The ancient city of Suzhou in from the local government. It now industry magazine MICE China, need to consider the destination’s work closely MICE destination in China fol- province has evolved into has 24 fi ve-star hotels, ranking it said it is vital for the local govern- linkage with their core business. with local lowing Beijing and Shanghai, he a leading business metropolis and third nationwide. ment to transform and integrate Suzhou has developed a solid tourism and said. is now taking advantage of its The city’s unique geograph- the MICE sector into its overall industrial chain, especially with tourism resources and expo facili- ic location provides it with five tourism development strategy — the launch and robust develop- ties to become a top-notch center airports — , Hangzhou, which poses a huge challenge for ment of the Suzhou Industrial for meetings, incentive travel, con- Pudong, Hongqiao and tourism authorities. Park, so many Fortune 500 com- ferences and exhibitions, known Shuofang — within three hours’ Suzhou is adjacent to Shanghai, panies consider Suzhou when in the trade as the MICE industry. drive. one of the nation’s biggest sources hosting conferences.” Only 60 km north of Shanghai, It is also along the Beijing to of MICE clients, and has devel- The local tourism authority the nation’s business hub, the city Shanghai high-speed train link, oped enough attractions for tour should broaden its emphasis from has a leading expo facility — the providing easy access for tourists organizers to choose Suzhou as a traditional tourism and move Suzhou International Expo Center and MICE participants. destination for company incentive further towards promoting the in the Suzhou Industrial Park — “In terms of exploring the MICE packages. more value-added MICE sec- that provides an excellent venue industry, we have been striving to Johnny Du, director of Sales and tor, according to Michael for exhibition organizers world- develop the sector since the expo Marketing at the Intercontinental Chen. wide. center opened in 2004, “ said Suzhou, said the hotel has become “Th e tourism author- Suzhou’s business travel demon- Michael Chen, CEO of the center. a hot pick during conferences. ity should work toward stration area, also in the Suzhou He also serves as chairman of “Our hotel is fully booked the higher average rate Industrial Park, now has leading- the Suzhou exposition industry when large companies such as of return for five-star class golf courses. The area is association. Johnson&Johnson host confer- hotel operators in Suzhou, becoming a hot spot for nightlife “Suzhou’s leading hotel facilities, ences, as the hotel is adjacent to and developing the MICE as well through its popular bars, together with the SuzhouExpo, the expo center,” he said. sector will be an ideal choice. PROVIDED BY INFORMATION OFFICE teahouses and cultural perfor- will provide integrated advantag- But there are many factors for It is only in this way that the over- Originating in Suzhou, traditional Kunqu is a form of Chinese opera dating mances. es for MICE sector development companies to consider when all tourism sector will witness a back to the 14th century. City starts Yangcheng Lake hairy crab festival

By ZHOU FURONG About 2,000 tons of the cities on the Chinese val will be events called activities, the festival will delicacies are harvested mainland, Hong Kong, “Publicizing Suzhou with provide guests with a feast Classical gardens have each year. Macau and Taiwan, as well Crabs”, “Spreading Cul- of both crabmeat and cul- long been attracting visi- Crabs reach maturity as Southeast Asia. ture with Crabs”, “Meeting ture. tors to Suzhou. Yet the in autumn, with the lake’s From September to Friends by Eating Crabs” A news conference for city is also famous for a hairy crabs the fi rst choice December this year, the and “Doing Business by the Hairy Crabs Business different delicate beauty of gourmets. As a result, MICE Association and Selling Crabs”. Culture Festival will be — Yangcheng Lake hairy Suzhou restaurants and Yangcheng Lake Hairy Business figures from held on Sept 11 in Bei- crabs. hotels are crowded with Crabs Association of various circles at home jing, followed by “The In fact the Yangcheng guests from the Suzhou are jointly hold- and abroad, enterprise Best Crab Banquet of Our Lake Hairy Crabs Associa- River Delta — includ- ing the fi rst International CEOs, government offi- Capital”. tion of Suzhou was estab- ing Shanghai, Hangzhou, Business Culture Festival cials and leaders of busi- It is the first time lished in 2002 to ensure Nanjing — as well as Bei- of Yangcheng Lake Hairy ness associations have authentic Yangcheng Lake production and sales jing and northeastern cit- Crabs. been invited to gather in hairy crabs will be offi- are supervised to form a ies. Large quantities are Among the activities Suzhou. cially promoted outside Authentic Yangcheng Lake hairy crab WANG YUTING / FOR CHINA DAILY brand eff ect in the market. sent by air to other large held during the festi- With almost 80 cultural Suzhou.