SHANGHAI, Sept. 23 -- Shanghai has introduced 87 tourist routes linking "readable" landmark buildings and century-old edifices in six districts in the city's downtown area, according to local authorities.

Equipped with QR codes that provide digital "tour guide" services for visitors, the historical buildings include the site of the 2nd Communist Party of China National Congress, the Shanghai Race Club building and the Cha House.

The project was part of this year's Shanghai Tourism Festival, which will last until Oct. 6 and feature 100 activities including some for overseas travelers. Held annually since 1990, the festival attracted 12.7 million visitors from home and abroad last year.

To date, QR codes have been installed in a total of 1,298 old and landmark buildings in six urban districts across the city, among which 1,032 are open to the public, receiving more than 7.6 million visitors in the first half of 2019, said the municipal bureau of culture and tourism.