<Author>Michael</Author>
<Topic>Tourism</Topic>
<Source></Source>
<Nationality>USA</Nationality>Before China began opening up under Dengs direction in 1978 and later with his Southern Inspection Tour in 1992, tourism was not a very big business in China. The Government was often fearful that tourists would see forbidden sights or that quaint ethnic populations would be embarrassed by foreign visitors. Today, however, The Forbidden City in Beijing alone has now begun to register more than 100, 000 visitors in a single day. Tibet has opened up to tourism and finds it a flourishing business which raises the standards of the Tibetan people's economy. Beijing, Harbin, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, various other cities, Xi' an's Terra Cotta Warriors, Hwang Shan Mountain, and many other scenic areas in China have multitudes of Chinese and foreign guests all through the year. More and more Chinese cities are labeling themselves the best thing this side of heaven. Even some Chinese cities which do not yet merit a mention in international guidebooks about China, such as The Lonely Planet, claim themselves as "the tourist capital of China."
The proverbs: "In heaven there is paradise; on earth, there is Suzhou and Hangzhou," or "One should be born in Suzhou, live in Hangzhou, eat in Guangzhou, and die in Liuzhou (the coffin capital of China)" really are designed in contemporary times to draw large numbers of tourists to visit them. I myself have visited the first three cities, but have not made an effort yet to visit Liuzhou. Various festivals, and especially the Spring Festival/Lunar New Year, mean that most airplanes, trains, and buses in China will be more and more crowded with travelers returning for family reunions or as tourists. More and more overseas tourists are visiting China. This means that better transportation systems are being constructed; more airports are being built; more train and bus service is available; and more and more Chinese are becoming accustomed to meeting foreigners. China is hosting more international meetings. With the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and if the 2010 World Expo is awarded to Shanghai, they are expected to bring many millions of tourists to China. Much of this tourism is very beneficial to China as a whole and to individual cities and regions both in terms of its economy and in its opening up process.
Nonetheless, serious problems with tourism demand wise planning throughout China. Cities and scenic locations are becoming excessively crowded. There is much more strain on energy consumption. Pollution is increasing rather than diminishing. The environment is threatened by overuse. Crime may accelerate dramatically. Unwholesome foreign tendencies may change people's core Chinese values. HIV/AIDS may spread much more rapidly than has occurred to the present in China. Transportation may be more difficult to provide the tourists.
