Big sponsors of the 2008 Guangdong International Tourism and Culture Festival and Pan Pearl River Delta Tourism Promotion Convention have gone to great lengths to support the event.

They range from a telecom operator, a liquor maker to a herbal tea company.

As the biggest telecommunication company in the province, China Mobile's Guangdong branch said that helping the government organize event is an important way to fulfill its corporation social responsibility.

In preparation for the gala, the telecom company further improved service quality for visitors from home and abroad. As well, by dialing the company's service hotline 12580, visitors are able to get updated tourism information on Guangdong, including where to find good hotels, sites and how to get to destinations.

The company has assigned professional staff to answer all the questions for customers.

Guizhou Moutai is a famous Chinese liquor brand selected to provide its product to the festival.

In 2006, according to America's Business Week magazine, Moutai's brand value reached $1.32 billion, ranking top among Chinese liquor brands.

Made from sorghum and barley, the liquor goes through eight stages of fermentation and nine distillations. The process lasts for a year, after which it is aged for many more.

Moutai is traditionally served at national banquets and other noted events.

Local sponsor Wong Chun Loong Traditional Chinese Herbal Tea Co began its production at the start of the 20th century.

In 1996, founding family descendent Wang Fuqiang used Wong's recipes and new technologies to improve the tea, then set up chain stores to sell it.

Some 10 years later, the company is the biggest herbal tea group in Guangdong.

Wong Chun Loong said it would like more people to know about the history of Guangdong's herbal tea, so the company is involved in varied promotional activities, including sponsorship of tourism and culture festivals.