A promotional activity aiming to boost tourism in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province was held at Los Angeles, California's Hollywood and Highland Center on Feb 19.

Silk, green tea and other cultural elements of Hangzhou were adapted into scenes from four of this year's Academy Award nominated films—La La Land, Arrival, Manchester by the Sea and Loving. Americans can post their own self-performed recreations of these scenes on social media platforms for the chance to win a trip to Hangzhou.

The promotion was jointly organized by the Hangzhou Tourism Administration and the American Broadcasting Company (ABC).

To further promote tourism in Hangzhou, an advertisement for the Zhejiang capital city will be aired on ABC TV on the day of the Academy Awards. Additional activities, such as "6-word Story" about Hangzhou, are also going to be presented online to American netizens.

Hangzhou is becoming an internationally known city, and is inspiring more Americans to visit the city and enjoy its culture.

According to the local tourism administration, the US has been the third largest source of tourists visiting Hangzhou since 2009. Data shows from 2009 to 2015, the number of visitors from the US grew from about 126,400 to 224,600, leaping to 243,000 in 2016 as a result of the G20 Hangzhou Summit and opening of direct flight routes from San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Hangzhou has been listed as a must-go travel destination in a number of magazines and newspapers, such as The New York Times, Lonely Planet and Travel+Leisure, further building its global reputation and attracting visitors from abroad.

Tourists examine a silk Qipao, a traditional Chinese dress, at a shop in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. [Photo by Wu Yuanfeng]