People travel to Hebei to feel the natural scenery.

People travel to Hebei to feel the natural scenery.

Wife of Mr. Wang said, "The natural scenery here is amazing. I feel totally relaxed in the rural environment. The food is also tasty, nothing like what we eat in Beijing."

Just a few years ago, authorities in Hebei worried about the lack of well-known tourist attractions around the province.

The vast territory of China abounds with tourist resources: seaside resorts in Hainan, grasslands in Inner Mongolia, and ethnic flavor in Yunnan and Tibet. Nothing in Hebei seemed to be able to compare with these attractions.

But Hebei sensed new opportunities when China amended its vacation system. Long vacations were shortened, which prompted more people to take short breaks instead of long journeys.

Beijingers begin to set their sights on scenic spots in nearby Hebei, such as Langfang, Qinhuangdao and Xingtai. Hebei authorities are working to improve services and infrastructure in anticipation of a tourism boom.

(CCTV September 18, 2008)