Tourism set to be a key engine for Qinhuangdao

By Nie Ligao (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-08-18 16:54

Qinhuangdao, Hebei province: The tourist industry is set to be a pillar for Qinhuangdao's economic development in the long term, Ma Yufeng, vice mayor of Qinhuangdao city, told a press conference here on August 16, 2009.

"Under the direction of the governor of Hebei province, we will make Qinhuangdao the biggest coastal tourist resort in north China and the ‘backyard garden' of Beijing and Tianjin," said Mayor Ma.

Tourism set to be a key engine for Qinhuangdao
A photo taken on August 17, 2009 shows tourists flock to the beach near Geziwo Park in Qinhuangdao city of north China's Hebei province. [chinadaily.com.cn]

Qinhuangdao, 280 kilometers southeast of Beijing, is a well-known tourist resort famed for its natural and historical scenic attractions.

Beidaihe, a city of Qinhuangdao, is famous for its reception of high-ranking leaders from Beijing who want to escape the heat and find a cool place during summer.

Shanhaiguan Pass, named as the first fortress of the Great Wall is also located in Qinhuangdao city.

In order to strengthen Qinhuangdao's tourism, the local government has planned to set up Beidaihe New District, which covers 425 square kilometers along its 82 kilometer long coastline.

The district will focus on high-level tourist projects such as golf and yachting according to the mayor's introduction.

"We still have a long way to go in the way of making the goal come true," said Ma. The top four industries in Qinhuangdao are machine manufacturing, metal production, grain and edible oil production and glass products.

Over 16 million tourists visited Qinhuangdao in 2008 and brought revenue of 7.28 billion yuan while the city's gross domestic product (GDP) reached 80 billion yuan in the year, statistics from the local government reveal.

Beyond the summer tourist boom, the rest of the year sees very few visitors to Qinhuangdao city.

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