China Beyond the Cities… CGG3O

Transportation in China Good road and rail system along the coast Roads get progressively worse the further inland you go Boat travel up the major rivers is also a popular travel option

Qinghai-Tibet railway Completed in 1984 Crosses central China through the mountains to Lhasa (capital of Tibet) at the western edge of the country 48 hour train ride from Beijing 1142 km, almost all above 4000m in altitude Many Tibetans supplement farming income with tourism (working as guides)

Tibet Highest country on earth (shares Mount Everest with Nepal) Dominant Religion is Tibetan Buddhism In the 1950s (after a military conflict) it was incorporated into the People’s Republic of China and its government was abolished –Up to 1 million tibetans were killed during Mao’s “Great Leap Forward” –About 6000 monasteries were burned during the Cultural Revolution

Tibet Today it is governed as an Autonomous Region of China There have been and continue to be many significant movements supporting Tibetan independence Dissent is quashed within China, so the movement is mostly based out of India and the United States The Free Tibet movement is a popular cause for celebrities (Paris Hilton, Richard Gere, Russell Brand, the Beastie Boys, Gorillaz)

The Yangtze China’s longest river Beautiful scenery 3 Gorges Dam (185 m high) Continue upriver to Chongqing –Former capital –Population of 30 million

Huangshan Mountains A.K.A. the “Yellow Mountains” In Anhui province Canyons, hotsprings, remote communities Big draw for –Ecotourists –Adventure tourists –Tourists wanting to see authentic Chinese culture

Hainan Island In South China Sea About the size of Vancouver Island Tropical climate “the Hawaii” of China –300 days of sunshine a year New international airport –Linked to 37 Chinese cities –Also Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, South Korea

Hainan Island Culture –Festivals –Dancing Recreation –Beaches –Golf –Hot springs Currently about 15 million tourists visit a year – Hainan Provincial Tourism Bureau has a plan to attract 75 million tourists annually by 2020

Gobi Desert 5 th biggest desert in the world Cold – frost and snow are common – and it can get to -40º in the winter (but +50º in the summer!) –Home to Bactrian camels (and the Mongolian Wild Ass!) and lots of fossils Camel/horse tours are a popular way to see the region Part of the Silk Road tour

Other stuff to do in China Check out Giant Pandas (Sichuan province, also Shaanxi and Gansu)

It’s not all good news Tomorrow we’ll look at the dark side of China –Human Rights –Environmental concerns

But overall… As a tourist destination, China really does have it all –Varied geography –Rich history and ancient sites/artifacts –Recreational activities –Amazing variety of food and culture