The Maritime Silk Road Museum on Shangchuan Island has become a must-visit tourist destination. [Photo by Zheng Caixiong/chinadaily.com.cn]

Jiangmen, Guangdong province, aims to become a major destination for tourists by promoting its islands and beaches, natural scenic spots, historic sites, ancient villages and hot springs, city authorities said on Tuesday.

In particular, Jiangmen has great potential to further develop its island and beach tourism, they said, with its long coastline featuring 561 islands.

Shangchuan Island, for example, covers an area of 157 square kilometers, and Xiachuan Island, covering 98 sq km, are the second- and sixth-largest islands in the province and the starting points of China's ancient maritime Silk Road.

Already, the two islands have a population of 36,000 and rich tourism resources. But both are becoming must-visit destinations in a sort of return to their ancient roots.