Beauty pageant celebrates the city of Guangyuan

The 2012 Miss China Tourism International Contest was launched in Beijing on April 6.

This year's contest is organized by its international council and the government of Lizhou district in Guangyuan city, Sichuan province.

Opened to contestants of Chinese descent worldwide, the pageant has received applicants from 60 countries. From May 1 to 9, all the candidates will gather in Guangyuan, the hometown of Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907)'s first empress Wu Zetian, to compete for the final title and the chance of being image ambassador for the city.