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Tourism market turning hot in September

Statistics from major local travel agencies show an increasing number of local residents choose to travel in September this year. The number of tourists reaches a record high. Tourism routes around the Mid-Autumn Festival are quite hot. Routes to Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan are already fully booked.

September has long been the off-season in traveling. Why is it turning hot this year?

"Because of the cheap price," Xuan Xuejun, president of Ningbo City Tourism Agencies Association, gave the answer. After the new "Tourism Law" came into force this April, travel agencies are banned from offering "unreasonably low" prices to attract tourists. Off-season tour becomes a good choice for those who seek low prices.

The new tourism law stipulates that fixed-price tour contracts should clearly list arranged shopping trips, tips, calling for a "zero tolerance" attitude towards forced goods purchases and arranging items at tourists' own expenses. With the tourism law, prices of a number of routes may be higher. Some visitors choose to grab the low-priced trips available in September, making the traditional "low season" hot.

"The routes to Taiwan after September 20 are almost fully booked. So are routes to Hong Kong and Macau. Routes to Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand are also hot picks. Almost all have been sold out last month," said Xuan Xuejun. He added that these short-term tours are extremely popular and various travel agencies have received doubled tourists over last year.

Baoguo Temple in China's Ningbo

Baoguo Temple, situated 15 kilometers away from downtown Ningbo City on the side of Lingshan Mountain, is the oldest and most completely preserved wooden structure in South China. The main hall of the present temple dates back to 1013.

It consists of Shan Men (Mountain Gate), Tian Wang Dian (Hall of Heavenly King), Da Dian (Grand Hall), and the Scripture Repository, occupying an area of 13,000 square meters.

As the oldest and the best-preserved example of wooden architecture south of the Yangtze River, the Grand Hall is invaluable to the nation's architectural studies and still a mystery to scientists.

The hall was built without a single nail or beam. In addition, no birds have ventured inside to make nests, nor have insects, and no dust has accumulated. The Bell Tower, the Drum Tower and the Guest House are scattered along the hall. [bbs.fengniao]

more at http://www.china.org.cn/travel/2013-05/07/content_28751369.htm 

Ningbo listed in the 2nd group of national pilot smart tourist cities

According to related department, Ningbo was listed in the 2nd group of national pilot smart tourist cities.

According to the plan of National Tourism Administration, China should in about 10 years basically realize "smart tourism based on information technology. In 2012, National Tourism Administration released the 1st group of national pilot smart tourist cities. On the 2nd list are 15 national pilot smart tourist cities including Tianjin, Guangzhou and Hangzhou.

Ningbo received 60 million tourists in 2012

On January 18, Ningbo Municipal Tourist Administration released Report of Tourism Economic Operation 2012. According to the report, in 2012 the tourism industry of Ningbo maintains stable in general. In the year, the city received 57.48 million domestic tourists, increased by 10.95% year on year. The turnover of the tourism industry in the year totals 86.28 billion yuan, increased by 14.84%. It is that in 2012 Ningbo travel agencies sent 492,900 tourists to foreign countries, increased by 18.01% above the same period of the previous year.

According to the Report of Tourism Economic Operation 2012, from January to December in 2012 Ningbo received 1.162 million foreign tourists, increased by 8.18% year on year. Of all the figures, the growth rate of the overseas tourism is most eye-catching. An investigation shows that this is attributed to the travel by chartered plane and cruiser. In addition, the high profit for overseas travel is another reason for the enthusiasm of travel agencies to organize travelers to foreign countries.

Of the short-distance overseas travel, the hottest destinations are Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, especially Taiwan. Statistics show that in 2012 Ningbo sent over 69,400 travelers to Taiwan, increased by 40% year on year.

"Ningbo does not have better conditions for national landscape resources than other cities. However, in recent years, Ningbo has made great efforts to promote leisure tourism," said an authority of Ningbo Municipal Tourist Administration. The sport-tourism and culture-tourism have become effective ways for the sustainable development of leisure tourism of Ningbo.

Exhibition of Lou Senhua's Chinese paintings opened

The exhibition of Lou Shenhua’s Chinese paintings was held in Chenqi Art Center on Dec. 15. Lou Shenhua is a famous painter and also a teacher of China Academy of Art. The exhibition displayed 36 paintings themed at landscapes and flowers and birds. The paintings of Mr. Lou were clear and far-reaching, faithfully expressed the painting spirits of China and the ideals of traditional Chinese scholars.
Borne in Fuyang in 1966, Lou was graduated from the major of oil painting of China Academy of Art as a post graduate. He had learned from many great artists, yet he was most influenced by Huang Binhong, a great artist on landscape painting. Lou has made great achievements in such areas as paintings both of Chinese style and western style, calligraphy as well as appreciation, and he also gathered abundant knowledge on Chinese and western art histories. His paintings modeled on nature while stuck to traditions, thus many of them were collected by foreign museums such as museums in the USA and Japan. Now, Lou is not only the director of the sector of the appreciation and restoration of antique artworks in China Academy of Art, he is also the main lecturer of a program on Chinese paintings broadcasted on CCTV.
Chenqi Art Center, situated on Cuibai Road of Haishu District, was founded in 2012. It is meant to promote the Ming-Style furniture used by scholars in south Changjiang and also dedicated to develop classical arts.

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