Spanish visitors admire Longquan swords. [Photo/Tide News]

A Spanish cultural tourism delegation from the O Salnes region of Galicia visited Longquan, a county-level city in Lishui, Zhejiang province, from June 27 to 28, forming multiple tentative cooperation agreements in cross-border cultural tourism.

Following a positive response from the first Spanish tour group in March, this visit upgraded collaboration from merely sending visitors to pairing villages, co-developing industry, and creating long-term exchange mechanisms.

During the two-day trip, the delegation explored Xiazhang Ancient Village in Baiyun village, enjoying its pristine natural setting, century-old residences, and beautiful waterfalls.

They experienced Longquan celadon pottery-making and sword-forging at Longquan Shangtang Ceramic Art Development and Yuanyuan Sword Workshop, finding the hands-on activities engaging and worthwhile.

At business-government talks, both sides agreed on village-friendly pairings between Xiabang and Spanish rural communities, which will include regular artisan exchanges and the sharing of rural operation experiences.

They also planned mutual tourism promotion windows, joint inbound cultural itineraries featuring intangible cultural heritage, celadon and sword exhibitions in Spanish galleries, and the introduction of Spanish wine tourism offerings to enrich local offerings.

A memorandum of understanding will be signed, with annual visits and joint working groups ensuring sustained cooperation. Longquan also coordinated with nearby counties to create packaged tour routes targeting the European market.

Moving forward, Longquan will continue strengthening its celadon and sword brands, tailor its services to European visitors, and upgrade its interactive experiences, aiming to become a globally recognizable cultural destination.