Tourists pose during a "red tour" of Yan'an, Shaanxi province. [Photo/Agencies]

Routes in China cover ancient capitals Xi'an and Luoyang; coastal cities such Dalian; water towns including Hangzhou and Shanghai; the hometown of Chairman Mao in Hunan and island cities such as Haikou on Hainan.

The routes cover more than a dozen cities, offering visitors recreation and a way to better understand China's contemporary history.

Hunan, has five provincial tour routes and an international one of its own. Tourists can visit the former residence of Mao, places where he grew up, together with important sites on the long march and in fighting during the Anti-Japanese War.

"The former residence of Chairman Mao receives over 10 million tourists every year," said Xu Yousheng, head of the propaganda department in Hunan. "It is hoped that we can strengthen cooperation on red tourism and build a long-term cooperation and communication mechanism."

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