New travel route to famed scenic spots to open

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 ◆ New travel route to famed scenic spots to open

A new travel route providing a package tour to two world-class tourist destinations, the Three Gorges and the Shennongjia Nature Reserve -- known as the home of China's "Bigfoot" -- is to open in central China's Hubei province.

When the Three Gorges Dam begins storing water in June 2003, the water level of the Yangtze River will rise to allow visitors to arrive at a wharf in Xingshan county directly by boat. From there they can take a one-hour bus trip to Shennongjia.

Hubei is speeding the construction of the wharf, three-star hotels and a two-way road between Xingshan county and Shennongjia.And training courses for tourist guides are planned.

"The new route will cut the traveling time between the two scenic destinations from three and a half hours to only one," saidTan Huizai, head of the Shennongjia Forest District.

Upon completion of the Three Gorges Water Control Project, the project itself and the enchanting scenery along the Yangtze River are expected to attract millions of tourists, both Chinese and foreign.

Shennongjia Nature Reserve is famed for its long history, mystical virgin forests, high and elegant mountain peaks, limpid spring water and rare animals and plants.

Four tourist zones and essential infrastructure facilities have been built at Shennongjia with a total investment of 300 million yuan (some 36 million US dollars) over the past five years.

The district is to resume a traditional program, boat-hauling, and open an outdoor sports base for skiing, cycling, climbing and outdoor survival courses.