A cultural and tourism fair is held in Haimen district, Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province. [Photo/ntfabu.com] 

Haimen district in Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province, has been included in the national program aimed at driving rural vitalization by developing cultural industries, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced on Sept 11.

Sixty-three places in the country made the list.

The district has over the past few years been tapping into its cultural resources, including the history of Zhang Jian (1853-1926), an industrious and aspiring entrepreneur who not only established the Dasheng Cotton Mills that once led China's cotton-spinning industry in the early 20th century but also built museums, hospitals, nursing homes, and founded and co-founded some 370 schools in Nantong. It was he who earned his hometown the title of the first city in modern China.

The district has rolled out a series of cultural and tourism products such as study tours, ecology tours and leisure tours in an effort to turn its natural endowment into economic strength.

In addition, 10 cultural and tourism projects related to development of cultural and creative products and animation creation have been launched in the district this year.