Representatives of Shaanxi province, rich in historical heritage and relics of Northwest China, visited California to promote its abundance of tourist attractions, hospitality, business and trade potential on Thursday in downtown San Francisco.

Leading a delegation from the Shaanxi Provincial Tourism Administration, Chen Mengyu, deputy director-general of the Shaanxi Provincial Tourism Administration, in partnership with the Shaanxi provincial government, Shaanxi Huaqing Palace Cultural Tourism Co Ltd, Xi'an China International Travel Service and United Airlines, presented to an audience of around 400 on how the birthplace of Terracotta Warriors is well-prepared for more international tourists.

Chen said his hometown now is more attractive to visitors as it is the birthplace of President Xi Jinping. "It's very close to Xi'an, the capital city," he said.

On the upcoming inaugural United Airlines direct flight between San Francisco and Xi'an, capital city of Shaanxi, Chen said it will bolster connections between the Bay Area and one of the birthplaces of the ancient Chinese civilizations in the Yellow River Basin.

"On May 8, the United Airlines will launch its non-stop flights between Xi'an and San Francisco. We believe this will greatly facilitate bilateral business and people-to-people exchanges between Shaanxi and the West Coast," said Chen. "It's an action driven by the market."

Talking to dignitaries, elected officials and tourism industry representatives from the US and China, Chen said the United States remains the primary tourism source market for Shaanxi province, adding that the US ranks second in Shaanxi's source markets with a total of 300,000 journeys made in 2015.

As the eastern terminus of the Silk Road, Xi'an is a worldly city that has more than 3,000 years of history, including more than 1,100 years being the national capital of several ancient dynasties.

"Historical sites and cultural relics are abundant in Shaanxi and Xi'an," said Chen.

Zha Liyou, deputy consul-general of the Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco, said the direct flight will improve Xi'an's position as a transportation hub. "Earlier, visitors to Xi'an have to shuffle back and forth from Beijing or Shanghai, now it's one-stop service."

Following the presentation, there was a raffle drawing for two roundtrip UA tickets between Xi'an and San Francisco, two-night hotel accommodations by the Westin and a three-day tour by the Xi'an China International Travel Service.

During their US visit, delegation members will have in-depth exchanges about a series of activities of the China-US Tourism Year with the China National Tourist Office in Los Angeles, Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, US airlines and tourism enterprises to explore the American inbound market and promote China-US tourism visits and exchanges.

junechang@chinadailyusa.com