The rapid cultural development in East China's Zhejiang province is leading to the exploration of four tourism belts boasting a rich culture of poetry.

An event was held in Tiantai county on June 17 to further spur growth by promoting the integration of culture and tourism.

Zhejiang proposed the concept of "poetry road", which refers to a 190-kilometer route along the river from Hangzhou to Taizhou. The route contains an array of poetic cultural symbols, which can help to unearth the province's many cultural treasures, connect cultural sites, and promote the combined development of culture and tourism.

The four tourism belts are: the Road of Tang Poetry in the eastern Zhejiang, the Poetry Road along Qiantang River (the mother river of Zhejiang), the Landscape Poetry Road along Oujiang River (the second largest river in Zhejiang), and the Grand Canal Poetry Road.

The "poetry roads" are being built by renovating ancient paths and publicizing little-known customs and folk culture. Emphasis is now being put on creating a regional brand and turning it into a driving force for regional development.

On Nov 10 last year, the cities of Lishui and Wenzhou jointly released the first wave of 20 sites along the Landscape Poetry Road.

According to statistics, there are 262 key cultural enterprises, 157 key cultural industrial parks, 249 major cultural industrial projects, 166 key cultural protection projects, 66 cultural and creative blocks, and 62 cultural service platforms along the "poetry roads".