China's western region is famous for its awe-inspiring beautiful deserts and enthralling mystique. With the peak season of China's western tourism in full swing, many tourism companies and tourism administrations in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Hosi Corridor of Gansu Province are now collaboratively working on "Desert Tour" projects aimed at making the mystic and vast deserts hot tourism destinations.
From Tengger Desert to Sand Lake and Dunhuang to Badain Jaran Desert, tourists are popping up everywhere. They are not afraid of the sweltering temperatures and enjoy surfing in the hot sand and experiencing breathtaking desert adventures. Sand Lake appeals to an average of 500,000 visitors each year alone.
Provinces and autonomous regions in western China also engage in tourism through branded strategies involving the desert with names such as "Base of Desert Tour of China" or "Center of Desert Tour." They regard the "Desert Tour" as their most important and attractive tourist production. The region is building a tourism industry chain focusing on promoting tourism transformation from offering only sightseeing to more comprehensive facilities, including vacation areas, film production and adventure trips.
(CRI August 10, 2006)
