In 2017, Lianyungang and the surrounding area attracted more than 33 million tourists, up 12.5 percent from the previous year.

In recent years, the city has invested heavily to restore its ancient scenic spots and develop new places of interests. In 2017 alone, it invested more than 37 billion yuan ($5.4 billion) to develop 59 scenic spots, including many countryside tourist attractions.

Local farmers working at the attractions, such as in seafood-picking and silk-making, have benefited from tourism and live a better life.

In Lizhuang village in the city's Ganyu district, more than 400,000 tourists visited its 400-hectare cherry-planting site.

Separately, the city has also built villas, landing sites and bridges on Liandao Island.

The island, covering an area of 7.6 square kilometers, is the largest in Jiangsu province.

Another attraction is Yuwan Bay, about 20 km from downtown. And it attracts not only tourists but also the locals who go there to see its waterfalls and cliffs.

For those who love nature there's Yuntai Mountain located in the northeast part of the city, which is rich in wild plants, and boasts various kinds of giant ancient trees.

If you want to get there, take a flight to the city's Baitabu Airport located 25 km from downtown, or get off the highspeed bullet train at Xuzhou station and then take a bus to neighboring Lianyungang city.

Liu Maomao contributed to this story.