L-R: Elsa Lo, China Silk Tours; Helen Yue, China Custom Tours; Sophia Lin, Asia Classic Tours; Paul Cohen, Optriant; Ding Yunyong, Director of Tourism – Zhangjiajie; Mark Grundy, Wendy Wu Tours; Nancy Kuo, Ritz Tours; Gina Lu, Ritz Tours; Chris Spring, Spring O'Brien; Ping Wu Lee, China Plus Tours
Tourism officials of Zhangjiajie, the Hunan Province of South Central China, hosted an informative dinner on October 25 for a group of U.S. tour operators to address growing American interest in this region. Spearheaded by Ding Yunyong, Director of Tourism - Zhangjiajie, the event was part of the 2013 China International Travel Mart (CITM) in Kunming.
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The Zhangjiajie region is known for its parklands, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site Wulingyuan Scenic Area. The visual inspiration for the other-worldly landscape featured in the movie “Avatar,” the area, which includes Zhangjiajie Forest Park, Suoxi Vale, and Tianzi Mountain, features more than 3,100 immense quartzite sandstone pillars reaching to the clouds (some over 2,600 feet tall), pastoral streams, lush vegetation, and wide variety of flora and fauna.
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“From its natural beauty to the warmth of its people, Zhangjiajie offers visitors a host of authentic immersive experiences,” explained Yunyong. “With leisure, adventure and cultural tourism options including dance and theatrical performances rich in folk and custom, Zhangjiajie is a must-visit destination for Americans. We look forward to welcoming more U.S. travelers to our region in the near future.”