Wang Chuan, a Taiwan merchant, recently planned to start a cultural relics tourism business in central China's Henan Province to earn what he called "ready money".

When he revealed his plan at the 2002 Trade Fair for Henan, his investment invitation drew instant applause from over 2,100 foreign investors.

In Henan, famed for its diverse and valuable cultural relics, a dozen tourism projects relevant to local archaeological resources have been mapped out by the local government including the second-phase construction of the Longmen Grottoes listed as a world heritage site.

Wang, who has been to many museums in the world, but is still impressed by locally excavated jadeware in Sanmenxia city in west part of Henan Province. He said, "I've decided to stay here for a longer period to choose a project to invest in."

Fang Honglian, deputy head of the Henan Tourism Bureau, said that tourism could be the province's new economic growth point anda major source for non-trade foreign exchanges.

The province has instituted a number of measures to encourage the use of overseas capital in the creation of local ecology, tourism infrastructure and the establishment of joint venture companies.

Dubbed the "Natural Museum of China's History", Henan is a major birthplace of China's culture and civilization and over 20 dynasties established their capitals there.

About 1.4 million cultural relics have been collected in the province's museums, making up 10 percent of the country's total.

( eastday.com May 2, 2002 )