Tourism in China

Tourism in China

Tourism in China has greatly expanded over the last few decades. The emergence of a newly rich middle class and an easing of restrictions on movement by the Chinese authorities are both fueling this travel boom. China has become one of the world's most-watched and hottest outbound tourist markets. The world is on the cusp of a sustained Chinese outbound tourism boom. According to the World Tourism Organization (WTO), China is projected to supply 100 million travelers by 2020, making it the number one supplier of outbound tourists. In terms of total outbound travel spend, China is currently ranked seventh and is expected to be the second-fastest growing in the world from 2006 to 2015, jumping into the number two slot for total travel spend by 2015.

History

Between 1949 and 1974, the People's Republic was closed to all but selected foreign visitors. Beginning in the late 1970s, when the leadership decided to promote tourism vigorously as a means of earning foreign exchange, China quickly developed its own tourist industry. Major hotel construction programs greatly increased the number of hotels and guest houses, more historic and scenic spots were renovated and opened to tourists, and professional guides and other service personnel were trained.
The expansion of domestic and international airline traffic and other tourist transportation facilities made travel more convenient. Over 250 cities and counties were opened to foreign visitors by the mid-1980s. Travelers needed only valid visas or residence permits to visit 100 locations; the remaining locales required travel permits from public security departments. In 1985 approximately 1.4 million foreigners visited China, and nearly US$1.3 billion was earned from tourism.In 1985 there was 1.4 million vistiters to china !

Local tourism

Travel within China has become easier in recent years with the lifting of travel controls, massive investment in transportation facilities such as roads, railways and airlines, and the rapid rise in incomes. The number of domestic tourists increased from 695 million in 1998 to 878 million in 2002, boosting domestic tourism receipts from Rmb239.1 billion (US$28.9 billion) to Rmb387.8 billion (US$46.9 billion).

Inbound

Leifeng Pagoda on the West Lake, near Hangzhou
China has become a major tourist destination, especially since its opening to the world in the late 1970s. In 1978, China received about 230,000 international foreign tourists, mostly because of the severe limitations that the government placed on who was allowed to visit the country and who was not.[1] In 2006, according to the UNWTO, China received 49.6 million international visitors, making it the fourth most visited countries in the world.[2]
While the gap between the massive luxury hotels in the big cities and the more limited facilities elsewhere, hotel building continues apace. The number of tourist hotels shot up from 5,782 in 1998 to 8,880 by 2002.
By 2003 China had some 9,751 tourist hotels and a burgeoning hospitality industry, much of it joint ventures with foreign partners.
Two major factors that will cause a rapid increase in inbound tourism for the next five years are the 2008 Summer Olympics and the Shanghai 2010 Expo.

Outbound

Rising middle class incomes and a pent-up demand to see the rest of the world will make China one of the most significant outbound tourism markets in the coming decade. Controls on foreign travel are being gradually eased. Rising disposable incomes and constant exposure to foreign countries on television have also contributed to a surge in outward tourism. One indication of this is the increase in the number of travel agencies, from 6,222 in 1998 to 11,552 in 2002, which has accompanied a rise in the number of Chinese tourists going abroad from 3.2 million to 10.1 million in the same period. The proportion of Chinese going abroad for "private purposes" rose steadily during that time from 38.1% to 60.8%. Almost all the growth in travel agencies has so far been in Chinese-owned agencies, which increased from 4,910 to 10,203, while international travel agencies in China have remained at just over 1,300.
Chinese nationals spent more than US$15 billion on tourism abroad in 2002, and US$19.1 billion in 2004. In 2006 some 34.5 million mainland Chinese trips were taken outside of China.[3] China has been the leading source of outbound tourists in Asia since 2003, though most Chinese tourists (71% in 2005) only go to Hong Kong and Macau.[4]
The impact of Chinese outbound tourism is starting to be felt in Asia (17% in 2005), with far fewer going to Europe (5% in 2005) and elsewhere. In addition, Chinese tourists are among the biggest spenders when they travel overseas, making them a highly desired market.[5]
Mainland Chinese are currently able to take organized leisure tours to over 100 countries that have "Approved Destination Status". The major omission on that list, and the one place that more Chinese want to visit than any other, is the United States. However, by 2020 China is projected to produce 100 million outbound trips going to every corner of the globe, making it the largest producer of tourists in the world, by far.[4]

Language

Even though English is becoming more and more popular in China, most Chinese people do not understand English. Mandarin is virtually universal in Mainland China, though many dialects do exist, with some, like Cantonese having millions of speakers. Although many Chinese do not speak English, due to the educational system many Chinese near and in urban areas can read and write, even though they may have difficulty with spoken English.


Famous sites

The most popular tourist attraction in China is the Great Wall of China. Also popular are the Forbidden City in Beijing, which was the center of Chinese Imperial power, and the Terracotta Army of the Qin Dynasty Emperor's mausoleum in Xi'an, a vast collection of full-size terracotta statues of Chinese Imperial soldiers and others.
See also: World Heritage Sites in China
The Bund, Shanghai, an elegant parade along the Huangpu River of colonial architecture juxtaposed with Shanghai's skyscrapers
Caohai, Guizhou, where many experience being punted along this shallow lake to see many of China's varied birdlife
Changbai Mountains, an important nature reserve home to the rare Siberian tiger
Chengde, Hebei, home to the Mountain Resort, the world's largest existing imperial garden.
Confucius Mansion, the site of this complex in Qufu, Shandong, was home to nearly eighty generations of the great sage's clan.
Dazu Rock Carvings
Forbidden City, Beijing, once the center of the 'Chinese imperial universe' and off-limits to the masses - now open to all
Grand Canal of China
Great Wall of China
Guangzhou, Guangdong where the finest of the classic Cantonese breakfast dim sum is tried
The Hanging Temple and Yungang Grottoes, near Datong in Shanxi are two incredible sites, a temple clinging to a precipice and a series of grottoes containing a panoply of Buddhist statuary
Hong Kong cityscape, especially the skyline of Hong Kong Island from Tsim Sha Tsui
Ice Festival ("Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival"), Harbin, Heilongjiang, where extravagant and bizarre sculptures can be seen from life-size ice castles with rainbow lighting to fantastical snowy tableaux
Jiuzhaigou Valley
Leshan Giant Buddha, Sichuan the world's largest carved Buddha
Lijiang City, Yunnan, a classic old town of narrow cobbled alleyways and courtyard houses
Lijiang River, Guangxi, where boat trips are taken to see the contorted peaks that have been immortalized in Chinese scroll paintings
Longmen Grottoes, a parade of Buddhist figurines and reliefs, near Luoyang, Henan
Luzhi
Mogao Caves, these 1,000-year-old man-made caves on the old Silk Road contain some of China's most impressive Buddhist heritage
Mount Emei
Mount Everest, highest mountain on Earth
Mount Huangshan
Mount Jiuhuashan
Mount Lushan
Mount Qingcheng
Mount Tai (or Tai Shan), Shandong, a holy peak home to immaculate temples and pavillions
Mount Tianzhu
Mount Wudang
Old Yalu Bridge, Dandong, Liaoning, this half-demolished bridge to North Korea is still an important relic of the Korean War.
Pingyao
Sichuanese teahouses
Silk Road, abandoned cities along this famous ancient trading route.
Summer Palace
Suzhou, Jiangsu, a venerable mercantile city, dotted with elegant walled gardens
Taijiang, Guizhou -- where tens of thousands of the ethnic Miao people participate in the annual three-day Sisters' Meal Festival.
Temple of Heaven
Terracotta Army, in Shaanxi near Xi'an, the former ancient capital, these 2,200 year old life-size soldiers guard the tomb of China's first emperor.
Three Gorges
West Lake
Xiamen, Fujian -- Gulangyu Island, famous for its colonial architecture
Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, home to one of China's most unique minorities - the Dai people
Yabuli Ski Resort, Heilongjiang, the country's largest ski resort where many Chinese take their skiing holiday.
Yangtze River, a river cruise down this river to see the awesome scenery and a wealth of historical sights
Yellow River, one of the world's greatest rivers, offering a range of vistas, including the turbid Hukou Falls
Potala Palace (布达拉宫) -- Potala Palace was originally built by King Songtsen Gampo in 637 to greet his bride Princess Wen Cheng of the Tang Dynasty of China.
Dali -- some of the oldest still intact structures in Southwest China (西南). No trip to Dali is complete without taking a cruise on one of the many boats plying the waters of Lake Erhai

Natural Sites

China's mountains, lakes, valleys, caves and waterfalls:
Mount Taishan in the east, Mount Hengshan in the south, Mount Huashan in the west, Mount Hengshan in the north, and Mount Songshan in the center of China have been called the Five Sacred Mountains since antiquity. Mount Taishan, which snakes through central Shandong Province, is admired by Chinese as paramount among them. Another mountain celebrated for its beauty is Mount Huangshan in southern Anhui Province, known for its graceful pines, unusual rocks, cloud seas and hot springs.
Jiuzhaigou, Huangguoshu Waterfalls, and Guilin are all located in southwestern China. Jiuzhaigou in northern Sichuan Province is a beautiful "fairyland valley" running over 40 km through snow-covered mountains, lakes, waterfalls, and forest. The Huangguoshu Waterfalls in Guizhou Province are a group of waterfalls, 18 above-ground and four below, which can be heard from five km away. The Lijiang River in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region winds its way through karst peaks for 82 km between Guilin and Yangshuo.
On the plateau in northern China are many spectacular lakes. The Tianchi (Heavenly Pool) in the Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang Autonomous Region is 1,980 meters above sea level. This 105-m-deep lake is crystal clear, the high mountains surrounding it carpeted with green grass and colorful flowers.
Along the renowned Three Gorges of the Yangtze River are many scenic spots and historical sites; the Qutang Gorge is rugged and majestic, the Wuxia Gorge elegant, deep and secluded, the Xiling Gorge full of shoals and reefs and rolling water. The Lesser Three Gorges are lush with greenery, flanking water so clear you can see to the bottom. The Three Gorges Dam built here is China's biggest key hydro-power project.

Historical and Cultural Sites

China's long history has left many cultural relics and the title of "China Top Tourist City" has gone to the first group of 54 cities. The Great Wall, a symbol of the Chinese nation, is also a prime example of historical sites that have become major tourist attractions. As the greatest defense-structure project in the history of human civilization, it dates back more than 2,000 years ago to the Spring and Autumn and the Warring States periods - huge in its scale and grandeur, it rates as a world wonder. There are 10 sections of the Great Wall open to tourists, including the passes, blockhouses and beacon towers at Badaling in Beijing, Laolongtou in Hebei and Jiayuguan Pass in Gansu Province.
Grottoes filled with precious murals and sculptures are concentrated along the ancient Silk Road in Gansu Province. The best known are the Mogao Caves, a "treasure house of oriental art", with 492 caves with murals and statues on the cliff faces. There are 45,000 sq m of murals and over 2,100 colorful statues, all of high artistry. In the south, grotto art is represented in Sichuan Province by the Leshan Giant Buddha, carved into a cliff face. Seventy-one meters high and 28 meters wide, it is the largest sitting Buddha in stone, showing the carving skill of ancient craftsmen.
The Shaolin Temple in Henan Province, the birthplace of Chinese Zen Buddhism and famous for its Shaolin kungfu martial arts, dates back to 495 A.D. Here can be seen the Ming period Five-Hundred-Arhats Mural and Qing period Shaolin kungfu paintings. In central China's Hubei Province, beautiful Wudang Mountain, with 72 peaks in 30 sq km, is a sacred site of Taoism, which preserves China's most complete, largest-scale and best ancient Taoist architecture. In western Sichuan Province, Mount Emei, dotted with ancient Buddhist temples and structures, is one of China's four holy Buddhist mountains｡