WONDER LAND: Tourists visit a huge karst cave in Yingde County of Qingyuan on November 9 (BAI SHI)

China is embarking on a transition toward a green economy. For many regions across the country, tourism has become increasingly important for sustainable development.

As a pioneer in China's reform and opening up, Guangdong Province has been actively developing its tourism resources. Qingyuan, as a major tourism hub in Guangdong, leads the region in terms of development pace and initiative.

Recently, Chimelong Group Co. Ltd., a giant developer in the area, announced that it would build a world-class forest tourism complex, including a holiday resort and nature reserve for rare species in Qingyuan during the Tourism Promotion Conference at the eighth Guangdong International Tourism and Culture Festival on November 8.

"Chimelong Group has been pursuing sustainable development through establishing a green economic model since it was founded in 1989. Responsible investors are what the company now needs," said Jiang Ling, Mayor of Qingyuan.

The project is expected to provide a strong drive for future economic and ecological advancement, Jiang added.

Though Guangdong's GDP growth ranks No. 1 in the country, Qingyuan still lags behind the more vigorous Pearl River Delta. However, the situation is slowly changing. Its major economic indicators have ranked at the top for seven consecutive years, making it one of the fastest growing cities in Guangdong.

"For long, Qingyuan has found itself hidden away among the mountains," said Ge Changwei, Secretary of CPC Qingyuan Municipal Committee, in an address on November 8.

"Nevertheless, it is attracting more and more attention due to its development potential," Ge added.

This year, Qingyuan hosted the biennial Guangdong International Tourism and Culture Festival to showcase its beauty. Nearly 1,000 guests from both home and abroad gathered to attend the tourism promotion conference and sought opportunities in the city, which is located 100 km north of provincial capital Guangzhou.

According to Ge, the city has acquired as much as 130 billion yuan ($21.3 billion) in investments so far this year, compared to a total of 48 billion yuan ($7.9 billion) in 2012.

In addition to the festival, Qingyuan has drawn investment due to its rich resources.