Shanhaiguan Chosen as Exemplary Civilized Scenic Area

The famous Shanhaiguan Scenic Area in North China's Hebei Province has been cited as one of the national exemplary civilized scenic areas.

The scenic area is noted for the Shanhaiguan Pass, built in 1381 in the Ming Dynasty (1369-1644), and the eastern end of the Great Wall, and numerous other sites of historical interest.

After renovation over the past 10 years, the scenic area now has seven scenic spots centered on the 26-kilometer-long Great Wall, including the Old Dragon Head, First Pass Under Heaven (Shanhaiguan Pass), Jiaoshan Hill, Longevity Hill, Yansai Lake, Mengjiangnu Temple and a museum. Its unique scenery combines mountains with the sea, lakes, the pass, caves, temples and ancient cities. Every year, the Shanhaiguan Scenic Area attracts more than two million Chinese and overseas tourists.

The management of the scenic area has paid special attention to civilized management of its scenic spots since 1993. It is more attractive to both Chinese and overseas tourists because of its improved environment. In 1998, its revenue from entrance fees alone reached 38.05 million yuan. From January to September 1999, the area's income from entrance fees reached 34.27 million yuan.

Xi'an Satellite Center Becomes a Tourist Attraction

The Satellite Control Center in Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi Province, has become a hot tourist attraction in recent months.

Built in 1967, the center is one of the most advanced space centers in the world, linked not only with space control networks scattered all over China, but also with those in many foreign countries.

Visitors to the center will witness how experts and technical workers monitor, trace and check satellites in space. They can watch video tapes on the whole process of satellite launching and magnificent views of launches of the Long March rocket from the No. 2 Station at the Xichang Satellite Launching Center. They can see China's first "The East is Red" satellite, the satellite which have returned or are awaiting launching for the purposes of scentific survey, communications and meteorology, models of Long March rockets and China's space control network, visit to the gigantic control room, the satellite observing and control hall, and the exhibition of achievements in the use of satellites.

Huainan Opens New Tourist Attractions

Huainan City, noted for its energy resources in Anhui Province, is making great efforts to open new tourist attractions.

Huainan is one of the five largest coalfields in China, and boasts sites of rich natural and cultural interest. Bean curd, popular in China and abroad, originated in Huainan, which has held the Chinese Bean Curd Culture Festival for six years running.

Around Huainan there are many beautiful mountains and rivers, such as Bagong Mountain, Wolong (Reclining Dragon) Mountain, and Wolong Lake, Bagong Mountain combines natural scenery with man-made sights and is famous as the site of the Battle of Feishui in ancient times.

The tourism development projects began in August 1999. It is estimated that the ecological sightseeing area, cultural area and tourist area of the ancient battlefield will be constructed with two years.

Shanghai Airlines Adds B767 Passenger Plane

The last wide-bodied B767 passenger plane Shanghai Airlines introduced to its fleet in this century was delivered recently to Shanghai's Hongqiao Airport.

The fleet now has a total of 13 planes--three B767s, seven B757s and three B737s.

Shanghai Airlines operates more than 400 flights a week. Every day there are flights on the Shanghai-Kunming, Shanghai-Harbin, Shanghai-Guilin, Shanghai-Haikou, Shanghai-Fuzhou, Shanghai-Guangzhou and Shanghai-Beijing routes. There are three to four flights a day on the Shanghai-Guangzhou and Shanghai-Beijing routes, and the flight density from Shanghai to Xi'an, Yinchuan and Xining in northwest China has greatly increased.

In order to welcome Macao's return to the motherland, Shanghai Airlines has increased its weekly flights to Macao.

The company's B767 aircraft operate the Shanghai-Chengdu and Shanghai-Beijing (FM105/6) flights which have the most passenger demand.

More Chinese Counties Opened to Foreign Tourists

Approved by the State Council, another 11 Chinese cities and countied are now opened to foreign tourists, increasing the number to 1,405.

The eleven cities and counties are Changxing County in Zhejiang Province, Bo'ai County, Zhongmou County, Xichuan county, Queshan County, Nanzhao County, Xixia County, Xinzheng County, Neixiang County, Qinyang City and Lingbao City in Henan Province.

According to regulations of the Ministry of Public Security, foreigners with valid visas or residential permits can go to these places for travel without applying for touring permits.

Huge Waterfalls Discovered

Three huge waterfalls have been discovered near Yangran Village in Shuangfeng Township, 35 kilometers west of the Ninghai county seat under the jurisidiction of Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province. Each of the waterfalls has a drop of at least 150 meters. In the vicinity of the waterfalls there is a natural viewing platform roughly measuring four square meters.

The three waterfalls are Changliu Falls (150 meters), Xinlongtan (NEW Dragon Pool) Falls (200 meters) and Changbanpo Falls (300 meters).

The tourism department of Ninghai County is now surveying the waterfalls in order to open them to the public as soon as possible.