ST.PETERSBURG -- China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region is offering three new special tourism routes for Russian visitors to better understand the local culture, a Chinese official said Monday.

"The close contacts between travel agencies from both sides over recent years have led to a gradual increase of Russian tourists in Guangxi," Rui Hong, deputy head of Guangxi's tourism bureau, told a business event here to promote tourism products of the autonomous region.

Guangxi is known for a variety of tourism attractions, including karst caves, tropical beaches, historic sites and indigenous cultures, he added.

"Guangxi boasts unique landscape, abundant tourism resources and talented people," said Chinese Deputy Consul General in St. Petersburg Zhang Zhiqiang, adding that he expects more Russian tourists to visit Guangxi.