China Ethnic Culture Park
- By Angela Pruszenski
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CRI, July 28, 2011
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The exit of the China Ethnic Culture Park in Beijing mimics the traditional three-door gates found in eastern China. [Photo:CRIENGLISH.com] |
![The exit of the China Ethnic Culture Park in Beijing mimics the traditional three-door gates found in eastern China. [Photo:CRIENGLISH.com]](http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20110728/000cf1a48f870f9b01990b.jpg "The exit of the China Ethnic Culture Park in Beijing mimics the traditional three-door gates found in eastern China. [Photo:CRIENGLISH.com]")
Staff members decked in colorful traditional costumes stroll around each village, offering information on each nationality's culture, while various small shops sell ethnic-themed souvenirs and handicrafts. Many of the sites also hold performances and events at regular intervals.
Not all of the exhibits exude happiness however, as one room in the Qiang village is dedicated to the tragic loss experienced by the Qiang people during the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. In addition to losing a significant portion of their group, many of their cultural relics were also destroyed.
While the park tackles such a broad topic, attempting to explain China's patchwork of ethnic cultures, tourists who don't have the opportunity or time to cover China's vast interior appreciate the effort.
"It's like I'm going all over China, it would take me months to travel to all these places," Joann Letnaunchyn explains the experience. "Or, instead, I can just come here and meander from place to place and see the diversity in their cultures."
However, Steve admits that the park has room for improvement: "Ｉthink that for people who don't have a good understanding of Chinese geography and history there needs to be more interpretative materials". Despite saying this, Steve also notes that there are a number of helpful signs in each section of the park.
While the park may not rank among the top sites for tourists visiting Beijing, Cheng says she'll continue to bring her guests to the park to get a taste of China's unique national heritage, and encourages others to come as well, "Our job is to promote our country's culture and history to tourists, so I hope more come here to enjoy this side of Chinese culture and history."
A ticket to the park costs 90 yuan per trip.
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