Offering outstanding scenic beauty, diverse ethnic groups and sophisticated affordable infrastructure, Yunnan is an excellent introduction to China, Chen Tiejun, Director, Marketing & Promotion Division, Yunnan Provincial Tourism Administration, told travel industry personnel and media representatives late last week at the Sydney Shangri-la Hotel during the official opening ceremony and gala dinner to mark the start of the Australia-China Yunnan, Cultural Festival.
A large delegation of senior officials from provincial and local governments, fashion models, cultural artists and television and press journalists visited the NSW capital as part of a three city – Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland – tourism promotion mission.
[Pictured above – A member of the Yunnan Tourism Promotion group displayed fashion finery.]
More than 2.2 million tourists from over 40 different countries including Australia visited China’s most south-westerly and culturally diverse province last year, he said.
[Pictured below: Y
unnan has some of China’s best golf courses including the acclaimed Spring City.]
The plateau-sited province has seven world class golf courses including Spring City outside Kunming. The leisure pursuit is being actively promoted with a themed “Happy Golf Tourâ€, he said.
The Shangri-la Eco Tourist Zone in the northwest part of the province is also being intensely promoted.
This region is gaining in interest because of its rich bio diversity and spectacular scenery, he said.
China has 56 ethnic groups; 26 of these reside in Yunnan. More than 100 ethnic festivals or events are celebrated each year in the province, he said.
The Kunming International Tourism and Culture Festival is set for April 5 to May 5. Though the month long event will be held in the provincial capital the whole province celebrates this festival, said Mr Chen.
[Pictured right: Many old traditions are still observed in quaint Lijiang.]
A recently released pocket size “Guide to Tourism Festivals and Events in Yunnan, China in 2008†is available from the China National Tourist Office in Sydney.
Exclusive Report by Thomas E. King, TravelMole’s Travel and Lifestyle Editor
