Zhang Jiehui, secretary of the Anshan Municipal Party Committee, is interviewed by website reporters in Anshan, northeast China's Liaoning province, on Wednesday, December 17, 2008. [Photo: CRIENGLISH.com]

Anshan, a city in northeast China's Liaoning province, is known as the "Steel Capital" of China. It got this name from Anshan Iron and Steel Group, one of China's top steel mills.

Amid the ongoing financial crisis, the Anshan Iron and Steel Group, the largest enterprise there, has seen a sharp decrease in profit since October this year due to the global steel price plunge.

However, Zhang Jiehui, secretary of the Anshan Municipal Party Committee, expressed his optimism for the city's economy.

Zhang said Wednesday that the fundamental change in fiscal income proportions gave him confidence in new industries.

"Eight years ago, 70 percent of Anshan's fiscal revenue was provided by Anshan Steel. This year, its contribution will account for nearly 30 percent of this city's total revenue."

The chief official added that Anshan offers beautiful natural scenery.

"In 2003, the tourism industry generated 8 percent of Anshan's overall GDP. This year, the proportion is expected to increase to 10%."

Four years ago, Anshan Steel launched a sightseeing project named 'How the Steel Was Tempered'. Visitors can learn about steel-making, from ore mining to the output of armour plates.

The tour has attracted tens of thousands of tourists from Germany, Thailand, South Korea and China's Hong Kong and Macau.