Tongzhou District to upgrade "canal travel" by launching 22 projects

Beijing's Tongzhou District plans to raise 2.45 billion yuan from non-governmental sources to upgrade its "canal travel" by launching 22 new tourism projects. These projects include the establishment of the "Grand Canal Pier" movie and TV base, a canal-based catering and entertainment area, a canal culture experience center and an international sports center near the canal, and also the renovation of the Songzhuang art and sightseeing avenue.

Beijing's Tongzhou District plans to upgrade its "canal travel"

The 22 tourism projects, such as 10,000 mu of riverside forest park, involve investment totalling 2.45 billion yuan.

On the basis of integrating cultural resources such as the "canal travel", Songzhuang artists' village, Han Meilin Art Museum and Beijing International Book Mall, Tongzhou District recently opened three tourist routes for "one-day travel in Tongzhou": ancient ship ride along the canal, "tour to temples of three religions and ancient site of the Daguang Building, and cultural tour in Songzhuang.

"We will transform Tongzhou into a modern entertainment and leisure tourist area that is supremely convenient for residents," said Li Jixi, director of the Tongzhou District Tourism Bureau. In recent years, the "canal travel" has become an outstanding focal point of the Tongzhou tourism industry. The projects such as the launching of the Tongzhou Canal Park and relevant letters of intent that have been signed at this tourism promotion conference, will further accelerate the development of the landscaping belts along the canal and Wenyu River as well as the development of modern entertainment and leisure tourism areas, and improve the formation of the tourism industry chain which is mainly comprised of food, accommodations, transport, travel, shopping and entertainment.

Reporters learned that Tongzhou is home to an ancient royal port that was at one time operational. The Tongzhou section of the Grand Canal is 42 kilometers long and there are a number of cultural relics and historical sites along the two sides of the canal, such as the Lantern Lighting Pagoda, Daguang Building, the transport dock and the royal wood warehouse. Currently, Tongzhou District has eight tourist spots, 14 star-class hotels and 13 rural folk custom guesthouses. In 2008, the district received a total of 1.134 million tourists and accumulated 459.64 million yuan in tourism revenue.

Translated by LOTO