After the launching of the Central Government's western region development strategy, a majority of the west provinces and autonomous regions began to make tourism their pillar industry.

The western region, rich in natural resources, has 84 percent of China's 55 ethnic minorities living in compact communities. These diverse cultures illustrates the age-old histories of the ethnic groups.

Although the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in north China has made a late start in tourism, the program of "traveling through vast grasslands, enjoying characteristic folk customs" developed in recent years has brought about rapid improvement, netting a revenue of 4.24 billion yuan (about US$511 million) last year, twice that of the previous year.

According to Lu Ting, an official from the local tourism bureau, tourists there can participate in the Nadam Festival, a traditional festival practiced for over 700 years. During the event, many sports activities, such as horse racing, archery and Mongolian wrestling, take place.

Mongolian singing and dancing, traditional table delicacies and historical cultural relics left over from the ancient northern minorities are all highlights fascinating tourists, said Lu.

In addition, visitors have the opportunity to witness the modern lives and activities of the Oroqens, one of China's smallest ethnic groups which used to makes living on hunting.

Many autonomous prefectures within northwest China's Gansu Province, such as Gannan and Linxia, have also held tourism festivals featuring minority cultures since July of this year.

An official with Gansu tourism bureau Hao Hua says, Gannan has received over 400,000 domestic and foreign visitors in the first half of this year due to its "mysterious", "magical" and "sacred" Tibetan folk customs, gaining an income of more than 20 million yuan (about US$2.4 million ).

It is crucial for Gannan's success in tourism to infuse local ethnic cultures into the natural landscape, said Hao.

The Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in northwest China is trying to attract more visitors through its strong Islamic culture and Hui customs.

Currently, Ningxia has three Hui folk parks, displaying clothes and adornments, handicrafts, food, singing and dancing of the Hui for visitors.

Qinghai Province has now established many reception centers, which help visitors design tour programs with diverse characteristics of different ethnic groups, such as campfire parties and viewing the countryside on horseback.

Over 60 percent of the centers are founded by local farmers and herdsmen.

Cering Ma, a grandmother, said that by October this year, her grandson had earned some 6,000 yuan in about four months through performing Tibetan dances for tourists.

Zhang Xiqin, deputy director of the China National Tourism Administration, said, the development of tourism with distinctive folk customs will help not only the popularization of various ethnic cultures, but also the economic development of China's western region.

(People's Daily November 13, 2001)