Sichuan Tourism Admin­istration Hosts Culture Gala in New York

On Novem­ber 26th 2018, the Sichuan Tourism Admin­istration hosted an art and culture gala in Flushing, New York to celebrate and introduce the great achievement of western Sichuan tourism since the Chinese policy of reformation and opening 40 years ago. More than 200 distinguished guests including congressmen and business elites attended. Large-scale performances of folk music from China let audiences experience a visual cultural tour of the region. One of the audience members was even lucky enough to win round-trip tickets between Chengdu and New York. Sich­uan Province and Aba Tibetan Autonomous Pre­fecture are inviting more west­ern tourists to discover the treasure of their splendid beauty. Tourists may already be famil­iar with pandas, Mount Emei, Chengdu and the region's gastronomy, but Sichuan is also inviting visitors to Jiu Zhai Gou Valley and Gongga Mountain and to experience the lifestyle and culture of ethnic groups like the Qiang of Tibet.

Jiuzhaigou Valley

Jiuzhaigou Valley, a famed world her­itage site and national park, is regarded as a beautiful destination. Getting its name from having Nine Tibetan Forti­fied Villages, Jiuzhaigou features 118 mineral lakes, riv­ers and waterfalls, all mesmerizing visitors with their various shades of blue. Recognized for its beauty in the 1970s, it became a national park. It was awarded the status of UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve in 1997 and was also recognized as a UNES­CO World Heritage Site in 1992.

A taste of Tibet

There are loftier landscapes still in the Aba Tibetan Autonomous Pre­fecture, northern Sichuan, where the elevation rarely drops below 2,500m. Its highest point, Gongga Mountain, is 7,556 meters above sea level, 2,749 meters higher than Mount Blanc, the peak of the Alps.

Ruoergai Prairie, also known as Ruoergai Wetland, is one of the top three wetlands in China and provides vast green landscapes along the bor­der of northwestern Sichuan. The Ruoergai Grassland consists of meadows and marshes and seems flat and endless.

Also of interest is Yading. Yading is located in southern Dao-cheng County. The Yading Nature Re­serve has an average elevation of well over 4,000 meters. Inside the Yading Nature Reserve are the 3 holy moun­tains of Chenrcsig, rising to 6,032 me­ters, and Chana Dorje and Jampelyang, which both rise to 5,958 meters. These 3 snow-capped peaks sit in a triangle formation with forested valleys, clear rivers, glacier-fed lakes and abundant wildlife between them.

The host of the New York event said this gala aimed to continue deepening exchanges and cooperation in economics, culture, tourism and other areas between China and the United States.