Nearly 1,000 visitors, including 300 from 11 foreign countries and regions, gathered at Yangsha Lake International Tourism Resort for the opening ceremony of the 2017 China (Hunan) International Tourism Festival on Sept. 25, 2017.Series of activities are being launched in Xiangyin County between Sept. 25 and 26. Themed on "Splendid Xiaoxiang, Vast Dongting Lake, and, Charming Xiangyin", the activities are sponsored by the Hunan Tourism Development Committee (HTDC) and the Yueyang Municipal People's Government, and organized by the Yueyang Tourism, Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, the Xiangyin County People's Government , and Shuntian Yangsha Lake International Tourism Resort. A Hunan Tourism Promotion and Dinner Party was held that afternoon. The opening ceremony, including water motorboat show and art performances, was staged in Austria-style town wharf at Yangsha Lake International Tourist Resort in the evening. A variety of events are arranged during the festival, such as Dongting Lake Tourism Forum, Qingshan Island Tour, Tours to Inspect Hunan Classic Travel Routes, China FHM (Yangsha Lake) International Motorboat Invitational Tournament, Yuezhou Kiln Culture and Art Festival & Celadon Ware Revitalization Seminar, and Yangsha Lake International Golf Invitational Tournament. Waterscape, music, and exotic culture are integrated to provide the audiences with an audio-visual feast. Yueyang folk customs and intangible cultural heritages will be displayed.Translator: Chen Yu 

News 2017-09-27 17:13 View：1663

Recently, Some of garbage buckets with Tujia farming cultural elements debut in Zhangjiajie core scenic spots. The shape of garbage buckets, such as the traditional production of agricultural tools, basket, cloak, etc., both generous, environmentally friendly, and quite artistic sense, refreshing.Translated by SHUIRE

News 2017-09-26 17:18 View：1043

On 25 September, PPRD tourism department representatives signed the "PPRD Tourism Alliance Cooperative Agreement" at the 2017 PPRD Chief Executive Joint Conference in Changsha. The agreement was reached under the ideas of shared resources, products, market, information, and common benefit. The Pan-Pearl River Delta Region includes nine provinces (Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Hainan, Sichuan, Guizhou, and Yunnan) and two special administrative regions of (Hong Kong and Macao), which is why it is called the “9+2”. The area stretches across eastern, central, and western China. It is of great strategic and economic importance, as it accounts for one-fifth of the national territory and one-third of the population and economic aggregate. The "9+2" parties agreed to improve cooperation in the following seven areas: 1. Establish PPRD tourism brands and travel routes; 2. Have total tourism marketing; 3. Promote tourism cooperation among Mainland, Hong Kong, and Macao; 4. Boost inbound tourism; 5. Build a strong tourism market order; 6. Strengthen tourism personnel training and think tank cooperation; and, 7. Improve the cooperative mechanism.The "9+2" parties will also seek central government support; have PPRD tourism cooperation planning; build scenic travel routes connected to the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, border areas, and cruise tours; establish tourism publicity platforms and festival branding, and expand domestic and foreign tourist market.Signing ceremony for the Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Cooperation (PPRD) tourism alliance cooperative agreement (Photo/Yang Huafeng) Translator: Yu Jiangjiang 

News 2017-09-26 17:12 View：1077

Recently, Zhangjiajie Hongshilin National Rock Desert Park invited experts to carry out planning and design review.It is located in the northwest suburb of Zhangjiajie urban area, 18 kilometers away from the urban area of Zhangjiajie, Yongding District Yinjia Town Red Stone Village, a total area of 8,000 acres.The park resources with rocky forest and underground cave-based rocky desertification are widely distributed and large.It has the diversity of biological resources and cultural resources of the particularity. While ecological protection and landscape style is good, with a rare tourist viewing and scientific research value. In addition, the area is located in Zhangjiajie urban area, and Zhangjiajie National Forest Park neighborhood, will build a national rock desert park for Zhangjiajie tourism to add a beautiful landscape.Translated by SHUIRE

News 2017-09-25 17:18 View：974

On 19 September, the Hunan Airport Management Group announced that the Zhangjiajie Hehua Airport had been approved by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and would be renamed Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport. It is Hunan’s second international airport.This renaming will increase its international recognition and reputation, and promote provincial economic and social development.The State Council approved the establishment of Zhangjiajie Airport in June 1997. It opened for foreign flights on 17 November 2011. It currently operates three regional flights to Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan; and, 17 international flights to destinations such as Bangkok, Djakarta, Cheju, and Busan.In 2016, it had 296,000 exit and entry passengers. Of which 17.4% were foreign passengers, nearly 40 times as many as in 2011.In January 2016, the State Council authorized the Zhangjiajie Airport to grant visas on arrival (VOA). It operates duty-free stores and its international freight depot serves American, European, and Australian flights. In June 2017, it began construction of an international bonded warehouse which will facilitate Zhangjiajie’s export-oriented economic development.This upgrade to the international level opens a new chapter forZhangjiajie’s opening up to the world.Translator: Pang Yuehui

News 2017-09-24 17:11 View：1114

Recently the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) announced a list of 150 beautiful villages in China for 2017. The villages were recommended by local governments and reviewed by experts.Five Hunan villages made the list.Two Characteristic VillagesLaochehe Village, Longshan CountyBaoyao Village, Dongkou CountyTwo Modern VillagesDongmen Village, Liuyang CityZhujia Village, Taojiang CountyOne Historical VillageBachi Village, Qiyang CountyThe MOA initiated the event for the purpose of building beautiful and livable villages to promote ecological environment and advance harmony between human being and the nature. It gives priorities to carrying forward farming culture and folk custom, protecting traditional dwellings, building picturesque farmland, and developing agri-tourism. The selection criteria are as follows: 1. Good ecological environment. The village implements the environmental protection requirements by the central government, formulates specific measures to practice environmental protection effectively. It promotes a green, circular, and low-carbon economy, to integrate landscape resources and achieve resource-saving-based industrial structure and lifestyle. 2. Diversified industrial functions. Agricultural functions have been fully expanded; farming culture, pastoral style, and folk culture inherited; and, agricultural production and leisure functions integrated. The village should promote the integrated development of primary, secondary, and tertiary industries. It has good capacity to bring for job creation and increase farmers’ income. 3. Unique village layout. 4. Sound mental outlook.Translator: Xiao Juan

News 2017-09-23 17:05 View：1397

Ms. Sylvia Lucas, premier of the Northern Cape Province, South Africa, attended a meeting of Hunan-North Cape cooperation in Changsha on Sept. 20, 2017. "We expect to seek substantial collaboration in education, such as student exchange and teacher training, especially in preschool education," she said. North Cape government spends a large part of fiscal expenditure on education. It gives top priority to preschool education which is co-administered by local educational and social authorities. Some universities in the province are fostering preschool education talents. Hunan has 35 higher education institutions and six primary and middle schools which are eligible to recruit foreign students. Hunan Normal University has established friendly cooperative ties with University of Pretoria (South Africa), University of Nairobi (Kenya), and the International University of Management (Namibia). Hunan Normal University Office of International Exchange and Cooperation Deputy Director Li Miao said at the meeting that, the university’s preschool education covers undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs. There is possibility to expand teacher and student exchange between the university and North Cape, and develop dual degree and dual supervisor educational modes. Hunan established friendly-province relationship with North Cape Province in Sept. 2003. On Sept. 21 and 22, Ms. Sylvia Lucas leads her delegation to attend the 2017 Hunan-Africa Industrial Cooperation Promotion Fair held in Changsha.Ms. Sylvia Lucas (C), premier of the North Cape Province, South Africa. (Photo/Tang Xiaoqing)Translator: Pang Yuehui 

News 2017-09-21 17:09 View：1626

A Hunan cultural show was staged at Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) on Sept. 16 local time. It was the first time that the "Embrace China" - Hunan cultural exchange was held in Dutch campus, and also marked conclusion of the "Embrace China" series. More than 400 audience watched the show, including Dutch government officials, important personages, overseas Chinese in the Netherlands, international students, and foreign friends.Hunan artists performed Chinese classical dances, songs, and musical instruments, winning rounds of applause.The Chinese Ambassador in the Netherlands Mr. Wu Ken spoke highly of the show. He remarked that the overseas Chinese in the Netherlands work hard to accelerate local economic and social development, and contribute to the friendship between the two countries. He hoped that, through the cultural exchange activity, Dutch people will better understand Hunan.Vice Chairman of the Hunan Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese (HFROC) and head of the art troupe Mr. Sun Minsheng stated that arts can bridge different cultures and countries. He expected that, based on the national "Belt and Road" Initiative, the HFROC will organize more cultural exchanges to intensify friendly communication between Hunan and the “Belt and Road” countries.An "Embrace China" Hunan cultural show is staged at Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) on Sept. 16 local time.More than 400 audience watch the show.Artists play musical instruments at the show.The Hunan delegation visits Holland Rhine Group, and holds talks with Ambassador Wu Ken and leaders of the Association of Hunanese in the Netherlands.Translator: Pang Yuehui 

News 2017-09-20 17:02 View：1424