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Tourism Up 68% as 2.3 Million Visit Mao's Home Town
Xinhua ^ | 5 July 2005 | Staff

Posted on 07/06/2005 1:03:08 PM PDT by Our_Man_In_Gough_Island

CHANGSHA, July 5 (Xinhuanet) -- Shaoshan, the hometown of late Chinese leader Mao Zedong, has become an attractive tourist destination in recent years.

The famous Chinese village hosted more than 1 million visitors in the first four months this year, up 68 percent over last year's same period, The daily number of visitors exceeds 15,000, according to village officials.

The name of Mao Zedong, one of the founders of New China, also means fortune to locals.

Years ago, Tan Ruiren, a woman villager in Shaoshan, launched Mao's restaurant, which sells foods said to be the favorites of Mao Zedong. Now, she operates 82 chain restaurants nationwide. Tang turned in 32 million yuan (3.87 million US dollars) in taxes to the state last year.

Tian Haiming, curator of the Shaoshan Xuritang Collection Hall,said that he has a collection of several thousand of Mao Zedong's badges, pictures, calligraphy works and souvenirs carrying Mao's image.

"Such kinds of souvenirs are favored by visitors to Shaoshan," said Tian, who has held many exhibitions in Shaoshan, Jinggangshan, Wuhan, Guangdong and Beijing, attracting millions ofvisitors.

Shaoshan hosted 2.3 milion tourists last year and made a profitof more than 300 million yuan (36.27 million US dollars). The per capita income of local farmers reached 6,200 yuan (about 750 US dollars) last year, much higher than the national average. Enditem


TOPICS: Business/Economy; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: china; hunan; mao; shaoshan; travel

1 posted on 07/06/2005 1:03:11 PM PDT by Our_Man_In_Gough_Island
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To: Our_Man_In_Gough_Island
Tourism Up 68% as 2.3 Million Visit Mao's Home Town

So .000001% of the neighboring town's population came by for a visit? :-)

2 posted on 07/06/2005 1:13:55 PM PDT by Bluegrass Conservative
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