New Waterside Tourist Attraction

Qinghai Province in northwest China boasts a vast expanse of desert, boundless grasslands, and snow-capped mountains. With the development of tourism and hydropower resources, water corridors have appeared in the province.

The crystal clear Qinghai Lake is the largest salt lake in China. Its famous Bird Island has been eulogized as the Kingdom of Birds, serving as an ideal place for over 100,000 birds to love and breed each year. The rapid development of water transport over the past few years means that visitors to Qinghai Lake scenic area can enjoy themselves on various kinds and sizes of pleasure boats. There are over two dozen of these boats.

The Yellow River covers 1,900 kilometers through Qinghai Province, running through Qinghai Province, running through high mountain valleys. The Longyang Gorge Power Station with an installed capacity of 1.28 million kilowatts went into operation in 1986, and enabled the province on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to develop its water transport. Now Longyang Gorge Power Station has become a new hot tourist attraction.

Another water corridor is formed by Lijia Gorge Power Station with an installed capacity of 2 million kilowatts located right on the border of Jianca and Hualong counties. Power station reservoir has a constant store of 1.65 billion cubic meters of water. Crossing the reservoir by boat tourists can go to Kanbula National Forest Park, and on the way, they can witness the unique Danxia landform, mountains in various forms and the beautiful scenery which changes with each season.

The Songba Gorge or "Little Three Gorges," attracts tourists with the unique charm of its ancient temples and monasteries in the typical style of Tibetan Buddhism. Going sightseeing by boat is very impressive and exciting. As the boat passes through the picturesque landscape, one feels as if one is travelling through a painting. The Songba Gorge has attracted more than 30,000 visitors each year since 1996.

Up to now, Qinghai Province has opened seven water routes totaling 216 kilometers, and has put more than 70 motor boats in use along the routes. These efforts have given the province the capacity to receive 100,00 tourists is increasing every year.

Wuyi Mountain Listed as a World Heritage Site

With the approval of UNESCO, Wuyi Mountain in Fujian Province has been listed as a World Natural and Cultural Heritage Site, becoming the fourth such site in China. The other three are the Leshan Giant Buddha on Emei Mountain, Taishan Mountain, and Huangshan Mountain. The natural and cultural heritage site on Wuyi Mountain over 999.75 square kilometers, and is the largest world heritage site in China.

Wuyi Mountain, as a national nature reserve under strict state protection, has become famous for its tourist resorts and scenic areas.

Shaanxi Develops the Tangtai Mausoleum

Shaanxi Province has gone all out to develop the Tangtai Mausoleum Tourist Area.

The province has been cited as a natural museum of history because of its 72 emperor's mausoleums. According to archaeologists, Tang Emperor Xuanzong's tomb was built here. During his reign (712-742), he had a reproduction of Chang'an, the national capital during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) constructed for his mausoleum have been kept intact, although they have weathered over the centuries. The value of these stone carving is enormous.

The mausoleum can be found in Pucheng County in central Shaanxi. The county is also the location of four other Tang Dynasty mausoleums.

Sources indicate that about 100 million yuan of investment is needed for the construction of tourism projects in the Tangtai Mausoleum Tourist Area. These include renovating of the Divine Path, rebuilding the Divine Walls, Zhuque Gate and Heng Hall, and building steps for climbing up the mausoleum, and the sacrificial altar and pavilion. According to the construction plan, a commercial area catering to tourists is also on the agenda. It is estimated that all the projects will be completed within three to five years.

Another Skiing Center Opened

Heilongjiang Province has opened another skiing center in the Erlong Mountain Scenic Area, 60 kilometers from the provincial capital, Harbin. The center covers 78,000 square meters, and has snow cover for 170 days in a year. The ideal skiing period lasts for 120 days. The center is spacious and has good skiing slopes, including is spacious and has good skiing slopes, including an area of 12,000 square meters especially for beginners. Other recreational activities area also available in the Ice Amusement Park, including snow-snowmobiles, and skating.

Tang Dynasty Murals to Be Revealed to Audiences in Two Years

According to China News Service, there are several hundred well-preserved murals from Tang Dynasty (618-907) tombs in the storehouse of the Shaanxi History Museum located in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province. These paintings, which are representative of Chinese secular paintings, have never been shown to the public. At present, the museum is collecting funds to open a special exhibition hall to show these valuable murals that have been preserved for over 1000 years.

The Shaanxi History Museum houses 550 murals from Tang Dynasty tombs, coving a total area of more than 1,000 square meters. Five of these murals have been affirmed as treasures of the hunting, receiving guests, traveling, playing polo and so on. Figures in the murals include imperial family members, court officials, foreign diplomats, singers, dancers and service girls. Each painting presents its own style and fluid line, showing the classical beauty of Chinese paintings. Though they are over 1,000 years old, the colors are still bright.

Tang Dynasty murals have been found in over 80 Tang tombs in China built from 621 to 888.

Though funds for the Tang Dynasty Mural Exhibition Hall are presently insufficient, the museum staff is confident in the future. According to plan, the exhibition hall will be built and open between 2000 and 2001.

Five Restricted Scenic Spots

Five scenic spots in Hainan Province--the Ancient Yazhou City, Qiongshan's Lingshan Amusement Park, the Mount Wuzhi Deer Park in Tongshi, the Maozhen Miao Village in Baoting and the Ganshi Ling Fencing Villa in Baoting--were recently disqualified as designated tourism units.

The five units lack a competitive consciousness, good management and as a result they almost went out of business. Not passing the annual inspection of 1999, they are disqualified of receiving tourist groups, and travel agencies are prohibited from sending tourists to these places.