The government of Wulingyuan District of Zhangjiajie City, central China's Hunan Province, has launched a competition at home and abroad to design the symbolic gate of the Wulingyuan world heritage site.
The competition will be open till July 31, according to organizers of the event.
An assessment committee formed by famous Chinese architects will judge the designs for the new gate and announce the winners before the end of September this year.
There will be three winners, with the best design receiving 200,000 yuan (US$24,100), second place winning 100,000 yuan (US$12,000) and third place 50,000 yuan (US$6,000) respectively.
The Wulingyuan scenic area, famed for its unique landscapes, featuring quartz and sandstone forests, was included on the World Natural Heritage list in December 1992.
At present, the gate of the scenic reserve is a simple house for selling entrance tickets.
The winning design will cover 1,000 square meters and comprise a tourist center, a ticket house, a check-in passage and a sign for the Wulingyuan world heritage site.
The design of the new gate must be unique and in harmony with the surrounding environment.
The competition was launched to enhance awareness of protecting the world heritage site, organizers said.
(Xinhua News Agency July 4, 2003)
