Reaching out across the old Silk Road

Iran is an ancient country that has spawned numerous cultures, and where different cultures and religions thrive alongside each other.

From fire temples and churches to synagogues and mosques, from yesterday to today, Iran is a country where the East and the West have come together in harmony.

This very diversity, which is further accentuated by climatic diversity and the country's various ethnic groups, makes Iran an attractive and picturesque land where every visitor can find something of interest. Tourists to Iran can find and enjoy all sorts of attractions that they might have sought separately in different countries. Iran is a charming country and a land of unforgettable hospitality.

Historical tourism

Iran is the land of history. The brilliant history of the Iranian civilization has manifested itself throughout recorded time. The Iranian soil holds relics as old as 9,000 years, which includes magnificent remnants of all the different civilizations that came into being over the millennia.

Today, unearthed cities dating back to the time of rock-face tombs, ancient palaces, historical bas-relief, historic temples and mosques, theological schools, houses, mausoleums, caravansaries and countless other attractions built during the course of Iran's long history offer infinite viewing pleasure to tourists.

UNESCO has recognized eight cultural heritage sites in Iran as world cultural heritage. They are: Persepolis, Meidan-e Emam, Isfahan, Tchogha Zanbil, Takht-e Soleyman, Pasargadae, the Bam Citadel (arg-e Bam) and its related sites, Soltaniyeh and Bisotoun.

On the silk route

In July 2005, China announced Iran to be a tourism destination nation for Chinese at their own expense. To specially facilitate Chinese tourists, five airports in Iran issue one-week visas without requiring advance application. This marks the first time that Iran has implemented a policy of visa on arrival to foreign visitors.

In order to further develop tourism cooperation between the two countries, a memorandum of understanding on facilitating group tours of Chinese tourists to Iran was signed by Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization (ICHHTO) and China's National Tourism Organization in 2007.

According to the eight-article document, China is committed to designating tourist agencies supervised by the country's national tourist organization to arrange tours to Iran for Chinese citizens.

Meanwhile, based on the MOU, ICHHTO will propose tour agencies with appropriate standards and criteria to help arrange tours for Chinese tourists interested in visiting Iran.

(China Daily 02/18/2008 page16)