The International Photography Exhibition, of the county of Pingyao, Shanxi province has been having a greater over a decade, both by creating a golden tourist week, and by bringing fresh ideas and a new vitality.

And hotels have been some of the main beneficiaries, for example, Xirentai Folk Hotel, on Gucheng West St, which opened in 2002, which, according to a manager, "keeps expanding, and the exhibition witnesses its development."

The head of the hotel, Hou Jinliang, went on to that the exhibition guarantees a steady occupancy rate and the hotel has been able to improve its services and facilities, and also provides help with the exhibition.

In 1997, there were about 50,000 tourists visiting Pingyao, with tickets sales bringing in 1.25 million yuan ($203,000), and overall sales just 12.5 million yuan. In 2013, however, 5.5 million, 117 million yuan, and 5.416 billion yuan.

Pingyao has also become the province’s only modern service development base driven by the tourism industry.