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City seeks today's Marco Polo through social media
By Xu Wenwen |
March 12, 2013, Tuesday
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Print Edition
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HANGZHOU yesterday launched a search and competition for a modern-day Marco Polo, or a "Dr Hangzhou" ambassador, who will promote the scenic and historic city to the world using social media.
The Hangzhou Tourism Commission will award the winner with a year-long employment contract as an ambassador worth 40,000 euros (US$51,988) and a 15-day, expense-paid tour of the city.
Marco Polo (1254-1324) was a legendary Venetian merchant who traveled to Central Asia and China, calling Hangzhou city "beyond dispute the finest and the noblest in the world."
The global recruitment campaign aims to encourage foreigners to explore Hangzhou, as the Venetian did, but starting first via the Internet.
Foreign passport holders can compete for the title "Modern Marco Polo - Dr Hangzhou" by taking part in online activities about Hangzhou on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube.
The online programs include "Hangzhou Challenge," "Travel Gear," "Choosing My Chinese Name," "My Hangzhou Menu," "My Hangzhou Wardrobe" and "My Hangzhou Love Story." They feature photo and word introductions to the city as well as Q&A knowledge testing and online games.
The content on social media covers many aspects of history, art, culture, cuisine and scenery.
"We are now in the new age of social media, and we expect to excite potential Hangzhou visitors in foreign countries by using Internet social media," said Li Hong, the director of the Hangzhou Tourism Commission.
"New social media have greatly changed the times and have merged into the tide of tourism promotion. Eighty percent of travelers first search online information about their destination before they actually take a tour," said John Liu, Google's global vice president and president for China, at the press conference.
In a speech, he said Google will soon upload onto YouTube 360-degree panoramic videos showing Hangzhou's scenic sites such as West Lake, Xixi Wetland and the Grand Canal.
One of the top 20 users with the highest number of points will be selected by the Hangzhou Tourism Commission as Dr Hangzhou and the city's tourism ambassador, with a year's contract and free, 15-day tour.
The online activity will extend to the beginning of 2015, when a selection will be made. The ambassador's main job requirement is to share his or her experience in Hangzhou. He or she also will feature in a Hangzhou promotion video.
Through this event, Hangzhou becomes the first Chinese city to use all four social platforms, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube.
Online channels:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/HangzhouChina
Twitter: twitter.com/Hangzhou_CHINA
YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCi8Hlnpb6UZ8o0QHBuw6H9Q/videos?view=0
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/hangzhouchina/
The Hangzhou Tourism Commission will award the winner with a year-long employment contract as an ambassador worth 40,000 euros (US$51,988) and a 15-day, expense-paid tour of the city.
Marco Polo (1254-1324) was a legendary Venetian merchant who traveled to Central Asia and China, calling Hangzhou city "beyond dispute the finest and the noblest in the world."
The global recruitment campaign aims to encourage foreigners to explore Hangzhou, as the Venetian did, but starting first via the Internet.
Foreign passport holders can compete for the title "Modern Marco Polo - Dr Hangzhou" by taking part in online activities about Hangzhou on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube.
The online programs include "Hangzhou Challenge," "Travel Gear," "Choosing My Chinese Name," "My Hangzhou Menu," "My Hangzhou Wardrobe" and "My Hangzhou Love Story." They feature photo and word introductions to the city as well as Q&A knowledge testing and online games.
The content on social media covers many aspects of history, art, culture, cuisine and scenery.
"We are now in the new age of social media, and we expect to excite potential Hangzhou visitors in foreign countries by using Internet social media," said Li Hong, the director of the Hangzhou Tourism Commission.
"New social media have greatly changed the times and have merged into the tide of tourism promotion. Eighty percent of travelers first search online information about their destination before they actually take a tour," said John Liu, Google's global vice president and president for China, at the press conference.
In a speech, he said Google will soon upload onto YouTube 360-degree panoramic videos showing Hangzhou's scenic sites such as West Lake, Xixi Wetland and the Grand Canal.
One of the top 20 users with the highest number of points will be selected by the Hangzhou Tourism Commission as Dr Hangzhou and the city's tourism ambassador, with a year's contract and free, 15-day tour.
The online activity will extend to the beginning of 2015, when a selection will be made. The ambassador's main job requirement is to share his or her experience in Hangzhou. He or she also will feature in a Hangzhou promotion video.
Through this event, Hangzhou becomes the first Chinese city to use all four social platforms, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube.
Online channels:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/HangzhouChina
Twitter: twitter.com/Hangzhou_CHINA
YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCi8Hlnpb6UZ8o0QHBuw6H9Q/videos?view=0
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/hangzhouchina/
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