REGIONAL> Culture Tourism
Shaoguan showcases historical heritage
By Liang Qiwen (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-11-28 08:10

All 15 cities that will host activities for the 2008 Guangdong International Tourism and Culture Festival are ready to welcome tourists from home and abroad, organizers said.

The Shaoguan part of the travel fete started in September and will last to the Spring Festival of 2009.

Of the 24 activities in Shaoguan - a city at the northernmost point of Guangdong - one of the most compelling is an inter-city tourism campaign jointly sponsored with Ganzhou and Chenzhou, cities in neighboring provinces of Jiangxi and Hunan.

The three cities, all rich in historical revolutionary tourism resources, are forming a geographic nexus they call the "red triangle".

With the theme of red tourism, their campaign will include three contests for travel routes, tour guides and tourism commodities.

Another highlight in Shaoguan is the Danxia mountains comprised of reddish sandstone eroded into steep cliffs and various other rock shapes.

Local authorities are applying for the mountains to be listed as a World Culture Heritage site.

Across the terrain, a string of activities have taken place or being planned, including a group wedding ceremony, an international symposium on the Danxia landform and bamboo rafting.

Hometown of Zhang Jiuling, a renowned prime minister in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), Shaoguan will also hold forums and exhibitions during the festival to memorialize the important historic figure.

A cartoon movie featuring Zhang is expected to be released in the near future.

The city's careful preparations are expected to result in millions of tourists by the end of 2008.

Zhaoqing city will also hold activities before the end of the year with a gourmet fete, a hiking festival and an art show held over the next two days.

The city's Sihui county, known locally as "home to oranges", will hold a festival with oranges and jades to celebrate the city's 2,222-year birthday on December 27.

The main venue of the festival Guangzhou will present a large parade of floats, a main attraction of the event.