Until thousands of dinosaur egg fossils were unearthed there in the 1990s, Xixia County in central China's Henan Province had never been on the tourist trail.

In recent years, the local government has made efforts to remedy that by promoting itself as "home of the dinosaurs" and publicizing its fabulous natural landscapes.

Xixia County is rich in natural tourist attractions including Laojieling, a national nature reserve; Jijiaojian, the main peak of Funiu Mountain; Longtan Gully; as well as 250,000 hectares of forests and dinosaur egg fossils. All these provide ideal conditions for the development of a tourism industry.

A huge dinosaur park and dinosaur egg fossil museum opened for visitors in 2003.

Chinese botanists have discovered large areas of alsophila spinulosa, a rare tree species that has survived since the era when dinosaurs ruled the earth, in Xixia in recent years.

The wild alsophila trees, numbering nearly 30,000, were discovered in Miping Township of Xixia County, located in the Funiu Mountain area in southwestern Henan Province.

Some of the trees are over 500 years old with a circumference so great that it requires seven people to join hands to encircle them.

The alsophila tree, one of earth's earliest known plants, has a reputation as a "living fossil." The tree is very valuable in the study of the formation and geographical distribution of plant species.

The trees yield a substance widely used in treating various cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and in making cosmetics, since its properties have been shown to be effective in retarding the ageing process of the skin.

These trees can be found in other forest parks like Laojieling Park, Longtangou Valley and Shimen Lake area.

Rafting is another popular travel activity that brings visitors to Xixia. The county has the Guanhe River, which flows through the area from south to north, emptying into the Huaihe River via Gushi and Huaibin.

As there are many mountains around the Guanhe River, it never stops flowing even during dry periods. There is a wide range of fish, shrimps and plant life to be found in the river, which thrive as there are no factories on the upper and lower reaches of the river.

Floating through stunning sagebrush, ponderosa pine, prickly pear cactus and huge rocks along the river can be a good way to test your courage. But it is fun and safe for most visitors.

The stretch of river used for rafting is about 12 kilometers in length, as the river zigzags under steep gorges.

Waterfalls cascade down from mountains along the river. The average depth of the rafting area of the river is two meters. Drifting down the river on a boat can be quite a breathtaking experience.

Rafters can float down the river between precipitous mountain slopes that have an 80 to 90 degree gradient. The narrowest part of the gorge is only seven meters wide.

As the source of Danjiang River, the Guanhe River area shares good forest coverage ensuring that the water in the river is very clean.

From the raft, you can gain great views of ancient villages on the bank, remote misty mountain peaks and local life along the river.

The scenic area in Xixia County is so large that it is impossible for you to enjoy all of the best spots in just two or three days. Choose a route along the river to watch the waterside life, villages and local customs.

To fully admire the beauty of the Xixia County, a three-day tour is recommended.

Day 1: Visit Laojieling Forest Park, Dinosaur Park and Dinosaur Egg Fossil Museum.

Day 2: To go to Longtangou Scenic Spot and Shimen Lake Area.

Day 3: Drift along the Guanhe River.

To get to Xixia County, first take a train at Beijing West Railway Station to Nanyang, a prefecture city in Henan. Train routes K47 and several others can get to Nanyang. It usually needs 15 hours and costs 250 yuan (US$ 30) for a sleeping berth. After getting to Nanyang, local bus routes can take you to the town of Xixia County. It takes two and a half hours to Xixia.

Xixia Hotel and Xinhe Hotel are the two best in the town of Xixia County. They are both 2-star hotels.

(China Daily August 19, 2005)