IN BRIEF (Page 20)
Eco-training center
Hong Kong Ecotourism and Travels Professional Training Center led an ecological field study to Haikou Volcano Geological Park early this month, even as its first overseas training base takes root there.
Wu Zhenyang, chairman of the training center's educational committee and leader of the study delegation, said it is an unprecedented event in the world to have an overseas ecotourism training program operate in a geopark.
The move, Wu said, is aimed at helping to spread the concept of geoparks a course of action initiated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The training base will greatly benefit from the rich geological and ecological tourism resources of the Haikou Volcano Geopark.
The park's well-preserved and abundant volcanic resources attract an ever-increasing number of eco-tourism experts from around the world.
Mountain climbing
More than 1,000 athletes from around China participated in the mountain-climbing festival in Wangwu Mountain in Central China's Henan Province last week.
Yang Cheng and Xu Zhenxia from Henan University, and Liaoning Province's Wang Xuejun and Pan Mei, won championships in different age groups.
Following the route along which the legendary Xuanyuan Huangdi (Yellow Emperor), an ancient tribal leader, is believed to have sacrificed heaven on the mountain, the climbers were energetically accompanied by encouraging drumbeats as they feasted their eyes on the beauty of the landscape.
Local government officials participated in the opening ceremony of the festival.
"We expect the mountain-climbing festival to bring Wangwu Mountain into the limelight," Zhou Baojian from the provincial tourism bureau said.
"High hopes have been pinned on the festival to enhance the tourism industry and fame of the city of Jiyuan, where Wangwu Mountain is located."
(China Daily 04/27/2007 page20)
