By Y. Sulaiman
ANSHAN, China (eTN): China has found a tourism gold mine in preserving and conserving its natural forest heritage, turning it into forest tourism.

"The future of forest tourism is even more promising," said Zhu Lieke, deputy director of China's State Forestry Administration. In 2005, some 180 million domestic tourists visited China's parks, an increase of almost 30 percent over the previous year.

"By 2010, the industry will provide nearly 4 million jobs and we expect 400 million visitors in our parks, accounting nearly one third of the total domestic tourists."

China's forest tourism, consisting of its state-owned forest parks, has developed rapidly over the last few years, covering nearly 1,900 forest parks built till the end of 2005.
By 2010, the total number is expected to reach 2,800 parks. "The development of forest tourism should be carried out without damaging our natural environment."

"Forest tourism has generated almost US$1 billion income by 2005, helping rural farmers to shake off poverty."
Anshan, in northeastern Liaoning Province, will host the Third China Forest Tourism Expo from May 26-June 2. "We want to boost the growth of forest tourism, as well as improve the general public's awareness of protecting our natural heritage," said Gu Chunli, mayor of Anshan.

At the expo, there will be displays of China's national 'forest scenery resources', forums on investments in forest tourism, construction and development of forest tourism. "We also want to strengthen supervision and management of our forest parks."

For decades, lumber mills have cut down trees in the forests of Tianshan mountains, in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
In the past two years, nearly half of the employees have switched to forest tourism. "The volume of trees cut has dropped to 1,000 cu meters. The volume will be further cut by 70 percent."

Its new forest tourism industry has seen almost 300,000 visitors. Its European-style two and three-story villas at Weihugou Park, offering 220 beds are fully booked. "Forest tourism will become the main industry in Xinjiang in the 21st industry. The state has built 40 forest parks."
Future plans include developing an ancient-theme Chinese resort, Zongchuan Park, a helicopter pad, and ski slope along the north slope 'economic belt' of Tianshan mountains.

Anshan, with a population of almost 4 million, is the third largest city in Liaoning province. Rich in natural resource, almost 50 percent of its land area is still covered by forest vegetation.