Mitigating global warming is a grand challenge for sustainable development in the increasingly urbanized world. How to build a low-carbon society and achieve economic growth at the same time remains less clear. In this paper, using Zhenjiang City in East China as a case study, we analyze the contribution of cultural and tourism industries (CTI) and important low-carbon industries to the sustainable development of the metropolitan area. We found that the CTI in Zhenjiang has accounted for 25% of

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... its total gross domestic product (GDP); the forest recovery for the development of CTI sequestrates 150,000 Mt of carbon dioxide annually, which substantially decreases its carbon emission per GDP and promotes the development of a low-carbon city. With the development of CTI and the transformation of the traditional industrial structure, the tertiary industry has gradually emerged and expanded. CTI-related employment has also increased, contributing to poverty eradication and the achievement of global sustainable development goals. The low-carbon and sustainable development model in Zhenjiang will provide a successful example for other cities, not only within China, but also beyond.