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Home , Chengde, Chengde Mountain Resort, Danxia landform, Mount Wutai, Puning Temple (Hebei), South Putuo Temple

32 FRIDAY AUGUST 8, 2008 SPECIALSUPPLEMENT DAILY

Jingbei prairie at Fengning, province

Puning Temple in Hebei set for Olympics visitors

By Wen Zongduo at no cost and enjoy half-price (1644-1911). discounts on hotels. The province has seven The province has designed national scenic sites, eight na- A province with seashores, is- seven tours for Olympics visi- tional-level nature reserves, lands, lakes, wetlands, plains, tors within two hours of drive 20 national forest parks, two mountains and plateaus, Hebei from and has arranged world geological parks and is ready to offer its scenery and 27 different itineraries for Bei- more than 500 tourist scenic historic sites to Olympics par- jing and residents. spots. ticipants and visitors. The province has organized Coastal city Qinhuang- “All people in the province multiple bus lines from Beijing dao will be hosting 12 football will be welcoming tourists to its tourist attractions and matches for the Beijing Olym- from all over the world with set up about 2,000 signs along pics between August 6 and 16. Putuo Temple in Chengde warmth and honesty,” said He- expressways and highways to As the closest province to bei Provincial Tourism Bureau guide visitors driving cars. Beijing, Hebei is becoming Director Wang Xinyong. the choice for many tourists The province’s attractions Rich resources from around the world during include ancient relics, beauti- Hebei is adjacent to Beijing the Games. ful settings and vast folklore. and Tianjin municipalities and The cities of , Baod- To meet the demand its stretches to the in ing, and Qinhuang- tourism bureau has the east. dao are within one and a half organized a “quality Five of its cities are listed hour’s drive from Beijing. month” in August to on the national historic and Star-rated hotels with nearly ensure friendliness, cultural list, 168 locales are 40,000 beds are set to serve honesty and safe, on the national cultural pro- visitors during the period as comfortable and tection list and three have well as 200 hotels that offer timely service. been designated world cul- economic lodging. The province also has tural heritage sites — Chengde As well, some 20,000 tour Map of Hebei tourism and made it a policy that Olym- Mountain Resort and Outlying guides and hotel staff have Wang Xinyong, director of Hebei pic champions can tour Hebei Temples, the Great Wall, and been trained in foreign lan- Pule Temple Provincial Tourism Bureau for free, while all Olympic ath- the Eastern and Western Mau- guages, Olympics knowledge, in Chengde letes can attend its attractions soleums of the foreign etiquette and cuisine.

Chengde Mountain Resort in Hebei province Chengde vital statistics Location: Northern China, bor- dering Beijing, Tianjing, and Honors: Among fi rst group of 24 cities of historical and cultural in- terest named by the State Council. One of the Chinese mainland’s top 10 scenic spots and one of top 40 tourist attractions and Outlying Temples joined UNESCO World Heritage list in 1994. The resort was designated one of the nation’s top 10 model spots for “civilized tourism” in June 1998. Chengde was cited an out- standing tourism city of the main- Autumn at Mulan royal hunting ground in Hebei province land in 1998. Development strategy: The city has given priority to tourism development, promoted several Chengde offers premier sites both at home and overseas, and upgraded tourism standards. Tourist attractions: imperial tours More than 50 sites, eight graded at 4-A, three at 3-A and 12 2-A; By Liu Xiang Manchu and Mongolian people, listen of the dynasty, the resort combines 72 Temple an exact copy of the original section of the Ming Dynasty Great One attraction is on the world to the Buddhist understanding of the scenic sites and is the world’s largest Shuxiang Temple on in Wall and considered the highest form cultural heritage list; world, taste a range of Manchu-Han classic imperial garden. It is com- province. The temples not of the Ming wall due to its intricate Eight relic and cultural sites are Hundreds of years ago emperors of dishes, try snacks unique to the posed of a palace area, greens, lakes only represent the magnificence defense systems. protected at the national level; the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) often region, enjoy the folk arts of cloth and hills. It has amassed both the deli- of Mongolian, Tibetan, Uygur, Han Thirty-fi ve relics and cultural stayed in the city of Chengde not far painting and paper cutting, or savor cate plants of southern gardens and and Manchurian groups, but also the Jingbei No 1 Prairie sites protected at provincial level; from Beijing in summer or when they local produce such as hazelnuts and the grandeur of ’s parks, unity of people of different cultures Jingbei No 1 Prairie, also named One scenic attraction is pro- traveled to . Chengde mushrooms. thus “collecting all beautiful scenes and origins. Datan Prairie, received its name tected at the national level; has since been famous for its charm- Among more than 50 tourist sites under the sky in one garden”. because it is the closest natural Six national forest parks; ing scenery, historic sites and pleas- in Chengde, 23 have been rated Grade Great Wall grassland to Beijing. It spans 285 Two nature reserves at the ant weather. A at the national level. It has four four- Outlying Temples The Jinshanling part of the Great km from south to north and covers national level. Tourists to Chengde can climb the star, 12 three-star and 14 two-star The Eight Outlying Temples sur- Wall is among the most representa- 350 sq km. Its clear lakes, shoulder- Famed sites: Chengde Moun- Great Wall at Jinshanling and recall hotels along with more than 2,000 rounding the Mountain Resort of tive. Inside Chengde, the section of high grass and grazing sheep make tain Resort and Outlying Temples; the glory and hardship of ancient war- restaurants, dozens of karaoke and Chengde are the largest group of wall was fi rst built in 1368, the year its sound ecosystem famous from Jinshanling section of the riors, enjoy horse rides at the Mulan dance halls and a bowling alley. The imperial monasteries in the world. the Ming Dynasty was established, ancient times. Great Wall; royal hunting ground — the world’s city has 2,300 tour guides, a number The temple of the Potaraka Doctrine under the supervision of top general The region is 1,487 m in altitude The world’s largest royal hunt- largest imperial hunting ground — or of whom speak English, Japanese, — Putuozongsheng Miao — was mod- Xu Da. It is a national key historic site, with waves of grass fi lled with color- ing ground at Mulan; wander through the imperial gardens German, French, Italian and Korean. eled on the in , a State-level scenic spot and a listed ful fl owers, singing birds and running The highest peak to the east of at Chengde Mountain Resort and ab- Temple of Far-spreading Peace — Any- site for World Heritage. horses. In addition to horseback rid- Beijing Wuling Peak; sorb ancient wisdom at its outlying Major attractions uan Miao — after Gurza Temple in the The 10.5 km section starts from ing, visitors can ride camels, join in Xinchui Peak, a remarkable fea- temples. Chengde’s Mountain Resort was an Uygur autonomous region, Longling Pass in the west and ends at archery and hunting or fl y a kite. ture of the Danxia ; Chengde’s appeal also lies in its important part of imperial life during Temple after a monastery in Wangjinglou Tower in the east. Along The grasslands are home to mostly Panlong Lake, likened to the diverse ethnic culture. Here you the Qing Dynasty. Built over 89 years , Pule Temple after the Temple the stretch are 67 battlements and fi ve Manchurian and Mongolian people city of Guilin, though smaller. may join the singing and dancing of during the most prosperous decades of Heaven in Beijing, and Shuxiang passes. It is the most well preserved who may invite you to join them. Tourism facilities: Star hotels: Four four-star, 12 three-star, 14 two-star. Jinshanling section of the Great Wall in Hebei province Other hotels: More than 300 hostels and other hotels with 35,000 beds in total. Tour agencies: 89, eight of them able for international tours. Tour guides: 2,300, some ca- pable of speaking English, Japanese, German, French, Italian, or Korean. Restaurants: Over 2,000. Recreation: Dozens of karaoke halls, bars and bowling alleys. Tourism fact and fi gures: Number of tourists: 6.222 mil- lion in 2005, up 12.7 percent over the previous year; Number of overseas tourists, 186,000, up 10.3 percent; Total tourism revenue: 3.02 bil- lion yuan, up 29.6 percent. Income from overseas tourists: $19.98 million, up 18.9 percent. Source: Chengde Tourism Bureau