The government of Lijiang wants to combine the city’s existing tourism advantages with more higher education institutions to enhance its long-term competiveness with its “soft power” strategy.

Six new colleges and universities are to be built in the next decade, making Lijiang “the second university town” after the provincial capital of Kunming, said Lijiang mayor He Lianghui, when addressing a meeting discussing the future of Lijiang.

College-trained professionals and culture will be crucial to Lijiang’s “soft power” and future development, the mayor added.

Lijiang now has two higher education institutions.