IN BRIEF (Page 20)
Stone forest
Xingwen Stone Forest World Geological Park in Southeast China's Sichuan Province received a record high of 51,835 visitors from around the world during the May Day Holiday (May 1-7), a 62-percent increase year-on-year, resulting in a 70-percent jump in revenue to 3.2 million yuan.
A key national scenic spot and a 4A-level tourism site, the geopark in Xingwen County in the city of Yibin is spread over 21 sq kms and features typical karst landscape. Here, one can appreciate China's largest stone forest, one of the world's biggest celestial pits (which the Chinese call Tiankeng), and the longest cave open to tourists in China.
Visitors can also enjoy the ancient city wall, suspended coffins and millstones in the ancient Bo minority ethnic group relics reserve area, as well as ethnic folk performances in the classical Miao minority ethnic village.
Tourism boom
Yunxian County National Geological Park in Central China's Hubei Province has witnessed rapid development in tourism in recent years.
Thanks to massive advertising campaigns and various promotional activities, the park received nearly 10,000 visitors during the May Day holidays.
According to the local government, the park is trying to attract investment to further develop its core scenic areas. It will put up the plate of national geopark by the end of the year after a complete revamp.
Open for viewing
Wangwu-Daimei Mountains World Geopark was officially thrown open on June 2 to welcome visitors from all over the world.
Officials from the Ministry of Land and Resources and the local government, as well as geological experts, participated in the opening ceremony.
Wangwu Mountain National Geopark in Jiyuan and Daimei Mountain Geopark in Xin'an county of Luoyang, both situated in Central China's Henan Province, are a geographic whole separated only by a river, and have complementary geological features.
They have decided to integrate and jointly bid for the UNESCO World Geopark title after acquiring national geopark status in 2004 and 2005 respectively.
(China Daily 06/15/2007 page20)
