August 25, 2015 TnH Global 0

Explore beautiful China along the Silk Road

The year 2015 has been designated by China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) as “Beautiful China, 2015-Year of Silk Road Tourism”.

Tourism from home as well as abroad are welcome to explore Beautiful China along the Silk Road in the New Year. The overland Silk Road is a famous ancient trade channel with a total length of over 7,000 km which traverses Asia and links Europe and Asia. It stretches from Chang’an (the current Xi’an) in the east, passes Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, Qinghai and Xinjiang, crosses Congling Ridge (the current Pamirs), crosses the Commonwealth of the Independent States, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq and Syria in Central Asia, and reaches the eastern edge (the current Rome) of the Mediterranean Sea. The silk road in China is long for over 4,000 km, over half of the total.

Jointly applied by China, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan in June 2014, part of the Silk Road was added to the World Heritage List of UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The application approved inculded 33 historical sites along the millennium-old trade route, including 22 in China, eight in Kazakhstan and three in Kyrgyzstan. They range from palaces and pagoda sites in cities to ruins in remote, inaccessible deserts. Earlier on September 7, 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a speech at Nazarbayev University, proposing to build “economic zone of the Silk Road” to strengthen economic ties and deepen more mutual cooperation including travel and tourism industry between European and Asian countries.

The Silk Road has its eternal charm with a history of over 2,000 years and lots of historical relics, places of interest, magnificent natural scenery and local conditions and customs along the Road. In China along this Road, one can find Terra Cotta Warriors, renowned as the eighth wonder of the world, Famen Temple which stores relics of Sakyamuni Buddha, Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, Maijishan Grottoes, Jiayuguan (Pass) of the Great Wall, historic site of beacon tower in Han Dynasty (202 BC-220 AD), Ta’er Monastery – a famous monastery of Tibetan Buddhism and the historic site of Gaochang – an important town of the Silk Road.

Many ethnic minorities live here and they are hospitable and welcoming and good at singing and dancing. They have different development history and keep their own unique ethnic characteristics, traditional cultures and religions. In ethnic minority areas, tourists can experience local life, enjoy folk song and dance, attend local residents’ weddings, celebrate festivals, and purchase exquisite handicrafts.

Closely linked with the above initiative, another great vision is the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, which was also put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping in late 2013 to revive the ancient maritime trade and cultural routes between China and its neighbours and partners. Surely, tourism links over the Maritime Silk Road will be further strengthened.

2015 has been designated by China Tourism as “Beautiful China, 2015-Year of Silk Road Tourism”.
The overland Silk Road is a famous ancient trade channel with a total length of over 7,000 km which traverses Asia and links Europe and Asia.
The silk road in China is long for over 4,000 km, over half of the total. Part of the Silk Road was added to the World Heritage List of UNESCO.
Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013 proposed 21st Century Maritime Silk Road to revive the ancient maritime trade and cultural routes between China and its neighbors & partners.