Geological Miracles Add New Attractions to the Three Gorges Tour

Heaven Pit and Earth Fissure, two new attractions near the Three gorges, have touched people even by their amazing names. Now the Fengjie County under the jurisdiction of Chongqing Municipality in southwest China where the geological miracles are located decided to promote inspection and exploration tours to the Heaven Pit and Earth Fissure this year. These new tourism projects have added more mystery to the Three Gorges Tour.

Called the karst funnel in geologic terms, the Heaven Pit is located in Xiaozhai Village, only 80 kilometers from the county seat, and it the largest one of this kind in the world. It is 622 metes in diameter at the top, 522 meters in diameter at the bottom and 666 meters in depth. The Earth Fissure, stretches to 37 kilometers with a width ranging from 1 to 500 meters in diameter at the bottom and 666 meters in depth. The Earth Fissure, stretch es to 37 kilometers with width ranging from 1 to 500meters. The deepest point is 900 meters. It is the longest one in the world. Every tourist will be deeply impressed at seeing the two breathtaking views of the natural scenery.

Studies by geologists indicate that the Heaven Pit and Earth Fissure came into existence over a hundred million years ago. However, it has been no more than a dozen years when people discovered their beauty. Since 199, scientists and explorers from Britain, France, Ireland and China have frequented to Fengjie County for investigation and studies.

For quite a long time, it was very difficulty for tourists to get an access to the scenic spots because they are 2,000 meters above sea level in the high mountains. In order to let tourists view their glamor, the local government put 100 million yuan in investment for constructing the 100-kilometer-long cement highway which links the county seat with the scenic spots.

It takes no more than two hours by motor vehicle from Fengjie County seat by the Yangtze River to the Heaven Pit and Earth Fissure. Riding on a bus or a car which runs along the winding highway in the mountains, tourist enjoy themselves with the tranquil rural scenery along the road. After viewing the world geological miracles, tourists can sample local delicacies before going back. The elders and those who are not strong enough can take a bamboo-litter ride for coming down.

At present, first-stage preparation for scientific and exploitative activities has been finished. Travel agencies in Chongqing Province and Yichang in Hubei Province have already started their promotion.

Agro-Sightseeing Garden to Take Shape

The modern Kuixing Agro-Sightseeing Garden has taken shape after a few years of construction. Flocks of sheep and cattle, and blooming flowers have made the garden full of vitality instead of lapillus spreading all over.

The garden in Shishan Town in Hainan Province'S Qiongshan City comprises the areas of plantation, animal raising, flower cultivation and a unique kind of butterflies only found in forests.

Sources show that 107 hectares of land in the garden have been reclaimed. Of these, 73 hectares are used for growing tropical fruit such as litchi, longan, star fruit, etc, in more than 20 varieties. More than 6,200 heads of domestic animals and fowls such as sheep, pigs, cattle and chickens are raised, in addition to 9,000 potted flowers. A number of villas catering for tourists will soon be constructed.

Yangzhou Folk Art Museum

The Yangzhou Folk Art Museum located in Yangzhou Lacquerware Factory, a new tourist attraction in showing the gems of collection of folk arts, recently opened to the public in Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province.

The museum displays typical folk arts and crafts such as lacquer works, embroidery, papercuts, calligraphy, inscriptions on ancient bronzes and stone tablets, porcelain carvings, miniature carvings, dough-modeling figures, and man-made flowers. In the exhibition hall, famous artists in Yangzhou often demonstrate their exquisite workmanship in making local arts and handicrafts.

Zushan, a New Tourist Area

The Zushan Mountains are located in Qinglong Manchu Autonomous County under the jurisdiction of Hebei Province's Qinhuangdao City. High and steep, more than 20peaks are 1,000 meters above sea levels or higher. The abundant resources of plants and animals make the Zushan Mountains more beautiful and dynamic. More than 200 varieties of animals live in the mountains.

Over the past few years, more than 100 scenic spots in five scenic areas have taken shape. Water supply and electricity are available and new road has been built. Telecommunications and other service facilities are efficient. Now Zushan has become one of the famous sightseeing areas and an ideal holiday destination in Hebei Province.

American Northwest Applies to Add Sino-American Flights

American Northwest Airlines has applies to the US Department of Transportation for an increase of 11 passenger and cargo flights between the US and China over te next two years.

The airline plants to open two Detroit-Shanghai direct passenger flights by the end of this year, raising it to three before the summer of next year.

After the three flights are opened, there will be altogether eight flights flying directly between Shanghai, the largest economic center in China and the US East Coast, as well as Mid-Western cities every week. In addition, there are five flights from Beijing to the US.

Moreover, Northwest Airlines also applied for an increase of four transfer flights starting from Detroit to Shanghai (three) and Beijing (one )respectively. These flights will stop at Tokyo to pick up passengers coming from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Las Vegas, Honolulu, Minneapolis, San Paulo and New York, who transit Tokyo.

By the Summer of 2001, flights of American Northwest Airlines starting from China will be as follow:

Beijing-Detroit: five flights every week.
Shanghai-Detroit: three flights every week.
Beijing-Tokyo-America: three flights every week.
Shanghai-Tokyo-America: five flights every week.

With the addition of flights that share the same flight number with Air China, the total number of flight number with Air China, the total number of fights of Northwest Airlines between China and the US ranks top among all airlines.

The airline also applied to open two cargo flights flying from Chicago to Shanghai via Seattle, Anchorage and Tokyo every week starting on September 1; and open two transfer flights flying from Chicago to Shanghai via Anchorage and Tokyo every week starting from April 1, 2000.

Free Tour Guide Service

Since 1999 the Elephant Trunk Park in Guilin City has provided free tour guide service to tourists to the park. So far, more than 20,000 tourists have enjoyed this complimentary service.

The park takes its name from a hill which looks like an elephant drinking water from the Lijiang River. The Elephant Trunk Hill has long since been the landmark of Guilin City.

The park opens at 6:30 a.m. and closes at 7:30 p.m. Everyday, five tour guides wait for tourists at the entrance, giving a brief introduction to the park.