Last week, our friends at China Southern Airlines invited me to the opening ceremony for the first U.S. office for the Guangzhou Los Angeles Tourism Promotion Center. This center will help facilitate education about and promotion of Guangzhou when U.S. travelers go to China.

Guangzhou, known as the Flower City, is a short plane or train trip right from Hong Kong and was the start of the Silk Road — making its a central location for business and culture. Like most Asian cities, it straddles a unique balance of modern architecture, like the Canton Tower, and history spread across the city’s museums and temples. I personally plan on seeing a Cantonese opera on my next trip using the 72-hour Visa Free program.

As the political climate continues to change between China and the United States, it’s more important than ever for tourism to bridge the gap. Tourism can help educate travelers for generations as they learn about the culture, cuisine, history and the unexpected when exploring a city.

— Carly Allen, associate publisher, executive vice president