Tourists can continue to enjoy the famous scenery along the Three Gorges despite the fact that shipping will be suspended in the Three Gorges Dam area beginning Thursday through June 15.

The shipping administration of the Three Gorges said tourists traveling westward will be able to dock at Yichang port at the lower reaches of the dam and take a 40-km bus trip to Maoping port, where they will continue sightseeing along the Three Gorges.

Tourists traveling eastward will dock at Maoping and proceed from Maoping in the same way, the administration said.

Maoping Port is able to handle 17,000 passengers daily, said Tang Guanjun, vice director of the shipping administration.

In addition, 200 tourist buses are available in the area, he added.

Tourists will enjoy the same beautiful scenery as before since all the famous tourist sites are located along the upper reaches of Maoping port outside the reservoir area, said Chen Shengjun, chairman of the Hubei Travel Agency Association.

According to the Tourism Administration of central China's Hubei Province, the total number of tourist arrivals increased by 53.34 percent in the first two months of this year compared to the same period last year.

Shipping is suspended in the Three Gorges Dam area as the reservoir is set to be filled.

(Xinhua News Agency April 11, 2003)