A view of Aral in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. [Photo/WeChat account: tzfb001]

Taizhou in East China's Zhejiang province kicked off its annual campaign to encourage local residents to visit Aral in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region on June 11.

The city will channel 8 million yuan ($1.23 million) in financial support to the campaign, according to Li Zhenjie, head of the Taizhou team that is supporting Aral.

Visitors from Taizhou to Aral will be given 1,000 yuan in coupons, which can be used for accommodation, catering, entertainment and specialty foods at designated locations within 10 days of arrival. They will be given a souvenir worth 100 yuan as well.

The campaign is slated to run until the end of October. Visitors have to meet certain requirements, such as staying in Aral for at least two days, visiting at least two local scenic spots and attending a campfire party, before they can enjoy the aforementioned benefits.

A flight linking Taizhou with Aral is expected to be launched in the middle of this month. The flight will significantly reduce the travel time between the two places.

Taizhou is paired with Aral under the east-west cooperation program for poverty relief launched by the central government in 2010. The tourism campaign, launched in 2020, has proved effective in bolstering Aral's cultural and tourism industries.

Besides encouraging local residents to visit Aral, Taizhou has also attempted to sell products from Aral to help increase the incomes of local farmers.