ART, Wordsworth and gingerbread were on the itinerary when officials from China’s consulate general and a Chinese broadcaster visited the Lake District.

The Lake District China Forum and the Confucius Institute at Lancaster University hosted the Chinese Consul General Mr Sun Dali, artist and diplomat Consul Wang Ying and reporters from the English language news channel of China Central Television.

They visited Low Wood Bay in Windermere, Wordsworth’s Dove Cottage and the Grasmere Gingerbread shop.

Jennifer Cormack, chairwoman of Lake District China Forum, said: “We want to attract more Chinese visitors and promote the Lake District as a spectacular destination for Chinese tourists.

“We can elevate the Lake District’s exposure in China and within the UK’s Chinese community with exhibitions and visits from delegations such as this one.

“We are grateful to the Confucius Institute for helping us to broker a meeting with the Consul General and to provide an opportunity for the group to see some local highlights."

The visit also took in the ‘Britain through the eyes of a Chinese Painter’ exhibition at Brockhole, featuring paintings by Wang Ying.