heilongjiang2011

Northern part of China has its own delights

By Zhang Zhao (China Daily)
Updated: 2011-05-04 15:33

Wetlands in Harbin will be a new attraction to tourists when a wetland festival is held in the city in June. Wang Cheng / For China Daily

Other lake zones set for development are Jingpo, Xingkai, and Lianhuan, which have mountains around them, natural beauty, and a distinct local culture.

Water activities, the woods and rural life are the major offerings. And, when the infrastructure is improved, the sites will become business and trade zones.

Then there is Yabuli Ski Resort, in southern Heilongjiang, the largest ski area in China.

Infrastructure plans for the tourism sites include roads, parking lots, restaurants and shopping facilities. Last year, the province spent about 860 million yuan on these projects.

This year, the focus is on local cuisine, and developing a diet that combines "culture, health, and pleasure, and making sure every dish has a story behind it", according to the Heilongjiang tourism bureau.

Russian food and local ethnic dishes are being highlighted.

The government is giving certain problems greater attention, one of these being the public lavatories. It has set some higher standards for hygiene, eco-friendliness, and size and shape.

It has already built some more handsome, easy-to-use lavatories at major tourist sites, using bio-technology to break down the waste and produce marsh gas at the same time.

To promote the province all across the nation, the government has established closer ties with media groups such as the Xinhua News Agency, China Central Television, People's Daily, Hong Kong's Economic Times and Wen Wei Po, and sina.com.

(China Daily 04/30/2011 page6)