CHINA DAILY HONG KONG EDITION Tuesday, July 24, 2018 Travel | LIFE 19

Red tourism — Top 10 red both at home tourism and abroad — is destinations in China finding favor among young Yan’an, Shaanxi province SEEING RED Shanghai Jiaxing, Zhejiang province Chinese. Xu Lin Chongqing Nanjing, Jiangsu province reports. Beijing Jinggang Mountain, group of people border of Jiangxi and Hunan dressed in the uni­ provinces form of the Chinese Zunyi, Guizhou province Red Army are Shaoshan Mountain, marching A down the street. Hunan province One of the “officers”, Dong Nanchang, Jiangxi province Yafei, proudly walks in step with a red flag draped on his SOURCE: CTRIP shoulder. They’re not extras for a TV drama, but tourists at the Jinggang Mountain on the border of Jiangxi and Hunan 100,000 Chinese soccer fans provinces. went to Russia to enjoy the “It feels different to tour 2018 FIFA World Cup, and revolutionary sites in an army many took the opportunity to uniform. I choose my words tour the country. Equally, more carefully and I find many Chinese travelers may myself acting differently — choose to embark on their such as in the way I walk — Russian adventure after the because I want to show my World Cup, when accommo­ respect,” says Dong, 28, an dation is cheaper. office worker from Beijing. Moscow and Kazan, both In May, he visited Jinggang cities that hosted World Cup Mountain, where China’s first games, boast popular red tour­ rural revolutionary base was ism spots. established in 1927. It’s a popu­ The China International lar red tourism site with the Travel Service provides several Chinese, especially those who Located on the border of Jiangxi and Hunan provinces, the Jinggang Mountain attracts numerous Chinese tourists due to its historical significance as a revolutionary base itineraries for Russia that like to enjoy experiences like and picturesque views. PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY include the two cities and pro­ Dong’s. mote Kazan as an emerging In 1928, Mao Zedong, Zhu destination. De, Chen Yi and He Long In Moscow, the Chinese like joined forces at the Jinggang to visit Lenin’s Mausoleum, Mountain, making the place a Victory Park and three nearby key site for the Red Army and religious buildings — an one of huge historical signifi­ Orthodox church, a mosque cance for tourists. It feels different and a synagogue. “I had only read about it in to tour around The Lenin House Museum textbooks, but when I visited, in Kazan was, in 1888, a the descendants of the Red revolutionary sites former residence of Lenin’s Army soldiers told us the story family. The rooms are modest­ with details that you can never in the army ly furnished and showcase get in a book,” says Dong, add­ their daily lives through items ing that, as time passes, there uniform.” such as Lenin’s chess set and will be fewer people to recount his mother’s piano. the stories of the revolution. Dong Yafei, office worker from At the Kazan Federal Uni­ Dong also says that while Beijing versity, visitors can take a pho­ red tourism attracts many visi­ to in Lenin’s classroom, even tors to Jinggang Mountain, it’s sitting in the revolutionary also a very picturesque place, tourism sites were born in the and political theorist’s seat — carpeted with green bamboo. 1960s and ’70s. And 39 per­ said to be in the second or the And there are also different cent were born in the ’80s and third row. souvenirs available, made ’90s. Also, to commemorate the from the ubiquitous plant. Summer is always a peak 200th anniversary of the birth Speaking about the signifi­ season for travel. It’s estimated of Karl Marx, the German cance of the place, Dong says: that over 30 million users of National Tourist Board has “These revolutionary pioneers Ctrip are visiting red tourism designed a 12­day itinerary in endured great hardship to win sites in China this summer. memory of the German philos­ the final victory. It’s similar to “Such change is worthy of opher. building a career — there are attention. It means that more In his birthplace, the city of many difficulties. Those who young Chinese are getting to Rhenish State Museum in the German city of Trier holds an Beijing office worker Dong Yafei dresses in the uniform of the Trier, a tour guide who speaks run, or work at, startups can know about the country’s his­ exhibition about Karl Marx until Oct 21, to showcase his academic Chinese Red Army when he visits the Jinggang Mountain, the Chinese takes tourists on a learn from it.” tory during their travels,” says achievements and political career. revolutionary base on the border of Jiangxi and Hunan. journey to trace Marx’s early Meanwhile, according to Shao Jihong, senior director of PROVIDED BY THE GERMAN NATIONAL TOURIST BOARD PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY life there, including a visit to the China Tourism Academy, Ctrip’s airline business depart­ the Karl Marx House museum, 2017 saw more than 800 mil­ ment. his former residence. lion tourist visits to 109 classic “Young Chinese prefer per­ technology, such as virtual famous people anymore.” nirs related to red tourism. Additionally, Chinese tour­ Other destinations on the red tourism sites in 18 Chinese sonalized itineraries, so it’s reality. She also adds that in China, “China boasts plenty of sce­ ists are also enjoying out­ itinerary include Wuppertal, cities, an increase of 13.3 per­ important to enhance their “Red tourism is more many scenic red tourism areas nic red tourism sites, with bound red travel. the hometown of German phi­ cent over 2016. And the aver­ travel experience.” diverse than before, and it can are enhancing their interactiv­ more traveler focused resour­ Ctrip’s data shows that pop­ losopher Friedrich Engels, and age age of the tourists was 35. She says red culture such as be combined with natural ity. For instance, in Shanghai, ces being developed in sur­ ular overseas destinations are Chemnitz, which was formerly According to online travel performances and festivals scenery, culture and country­ tourists can role play and take rounding areas. These Russia, Germany and the Brit­ called Karl­Marx­Stadt. agency Ctrip, from January to and dining can attract more side tourism. It’s not just about part in escape room games in destinations are suitable for ish Museum and Hyde Park in May, 32 percent of their Chi­ young Chinese tourists. Also, visiting bronze statues, muse­ some scenic spots. And in the patriotic education of the United Kingdom. Contact the writer at nese customers visiting red scenic areas should adopt new ums and former residences of Chongqing, there are souve­ young people,” she says. According to Ctrip, about [email protected] On a wing and a prairie: All roads lead to scenic Chifeng

By YANG FEIYUE according to the local tourism [email protected] commission. Driving routes Tourism income reached Chifeng has launched six 26.2 billion yuan ($3.92 billion), driving routes for visitors to a rise of 15 percent over 2016. Western route (1644­1911). Travelers can also soak up the charms of the Over the years, the city has The route runs for 500 kilome­ experience extreme sports at city’s prairie setting. By inte­ developed a range of mature ters and takes around six days to Yulong Sand Lake and enjoy the grating scenic spots such as tourism products — from prai­ complete. Travelers can visit the charms of the desert. geological parks, forests, tradi­ rie sightseeing tours to cultur­ Wulan Butong Grassland, a tional villages, homestays and al experiences featuring folk popular film location famous Eastern route camping sites, the city in the customs — to draw in more for its picturesque clouds, sky The route runs for 740 km and southeast of the Inner Mongo­ visitors. and sea of seasonal blossoms. takes about seven days. It’s filled lia autonomous region offers “Modern transportation is Other highlights include Dalinor with cultural attractions, includ­ surrounding landscapes that pulling Chifeng increasingly Lake and the UNESCO­listed ing the site of the Xinglongwa include mountains, deserts, closer to Beijing,” says Zhou Heshigten Global Geopark. (6200­5400 BC) Neolithic cul­ grasslands, lakes and hot Jinzhuang, Chifeng’s vice­ ture, which featured early agricul­ springs — as well as seven mayor. Located 400 kilome­ Central route ture and hunting, and the ruins of national natural reserves and ters away from Beijing, visitors The route is roughly 630 km Shangjing, the “upper” capital of over 7,300 historical sites. can reach Chifeng by air in an long and takes up to seven days the Liao Dynasty (916­1125). With its glacial landscape hour or drive there in about to finish. It allows tourists to Original pasturing culture can and granite stone forest, four hours. enjoy sports and fresh air at the be found on the grasslands of Ar Chifeng’s Dalinor Lake is The high­speed rail connec­ Mylin Valley and take a look Horqin Banner. Hot springs are home to hundreds of thou­ tion between Beijing and around a well­preserved Mon­ also available en route. sands of wild birds that flock Chifeng will be completed in golian imperial mansion dating to its rich waters that shimmer 2019 and is set to trim travel Chifeng’s prairie is a key attraction for visitors who also spend time in its geological parks, deserts, back to the Qing Dynasty YANG FEIYUE under the summer sun. time down to around two forests and traditional villages. PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY By the end of the Liao hours. Dynasty (916­1125), the ethnic “You could be busy in Bei­ nomadic Qidan tribe had left jing during the daytime, and Grassland, where visitors can the Mongolian rebels, and is ioned Mongolian oxcarts. sandy charms of these nic nomadic Qidan tribes is behind a profound historical be sitting in a yurt on the prai­ enjoy Mongolian nomadic the location of many well­ In addition to its abundant regions. also currently under con­ and cultural legacy in Chifeng rie that night, savoring milk culture, herding and horse known films and drama grasslands, Chifeng is also The region also provides struction. — a key point on the ancient liquor and listening to the races. series. home to the Hunshandake culture lovers with the To spice up the visitor expe­ Silk Road. melodious tunes of a horse­ On the Wulan Butong In Ar Horqin Banner in and Horqin deserts, where chance to visit one of the larg­ rience, various prairie festi­ In 2017, Chifeng received head fiddle,” Zhou says. Grassland lies the preserved northeastern Chifeng, travel­ sightseeing routes, cross­ est and best­preserved Mon­ vals and folk performances 16.36 million tourist visits, an For those who enjoy the site of the ancient battlefield ers can experience primitive country race courses and cam­ golian imperial mansions are being prepared, accord­ increase of 12.5 percent com­ great outdoors, Chifeng is where Qing Dynasty (1644­ nomadic life and visit areas el­riding tours have been set from the Qing Dynasty. A ing to the city’s tourism pared to the previous year, home to the vast Gongger 1911) emperor Kangxi fought where locals still use old­fash­ up to let tourists sample the museum dedicated to the eth­ authority.