CRI听力：中国的旅游事业

Considered the backbone of certain economies, tourism in this country is still a relatively new concept.  Since the reform and opening up period in the 1980's, many people have decided to make the journey to China to see this ancient culture in its new form.  The main draw isn't, of course, the new high rise buildings popping up all over the place or the glitzy nightclubs; it's the history of the world's longest running civilization.  And to that end, I can think of no better place in China to experience the dynastic history of this country better than Shaanxi's capital. 

Ni hao, you're listening to People In the Know, your window into the world around you, coming to you from Xi'an, online at www.crienglish.com here on China Radio International. In this edition of our show, we're discussing tourism in China in the backdrop of one of the cities that relies on tourism for its livelihood, Xi'an.  So let's get started.

(Music)

For anyone who's done a small amount of research on China, one of the must-see's on the list for China is Xi'an.  This city, now the capital of Shaanxi Province, was during the Tang Dynasty, the largest city in the world and was the Capital of China, known then as Chang'an.  But Xi'an also holds the distinction of being the resting place of China's first Emperor, the man who unified a group of warring states to create a nation.  Qin Shihuang, was a man who searched his entire life for the elixir which would allow him to live forever.  It was on one of these journeys that - ironically - China's first Emperor died.  But before his death, he made sure that he would live out eternity in safety and comfort.  To that end, for 37 years, thousands of Chinese toiled and labored to build what is now one of the most remarkable historic spots on the face of thee earth.  We all know it as the home of the Terracotta Warriors.  To that end, we decided it would be prudent while in Xi'an to talk to tourists at the Terracotta Museum about their thoughts, not only on the Warriors themselves, but on traveling to China as a whole.  We sat down recently and had a chat with three tourists visiting Xi'an to see the famous Terracotta Warriors.

 Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an. [Photo: top1949.com]

(Interviews with 3 tourists)

We're going to take a quick break.  When we come back, we'll hear from one of the men who makes his living off the Terracotta Warriors.

(Promo)

Ni hao, you're listening to People In the Know, your window into the world around you, online at www.crienglish.com here on China Radio International.  I'm Paul James coming to you from Xi'an, the home of the world-famous Terracotta Warriors.  In this edition of our show, we're talking about tourism.  And what better place than in Xi'an to talk about tourist draws.  For more on this subject, we were lucky enough to catch up with a remarkable fellow by the name of Zhao Xifeng, English tour guide at the Terracotta Museum.

(Dialogue with Zhao)

And with that, we wrap up our time here this week in Xi'an here on People In the Know, online at www.crienglish.com here on China Radio International.  Those who know me know that know one of my passions is history.  I'm always fond of saying that history is not only a look into the past, it's a reflection of what will happen in the future.  To that end, anytime I'm lucky enough to travel in China, it's history that I seek out first.  So you can just imagine the time I've had here in Xi'an. For all of the English Service staff on our trip here in Xi'an, Chu Daye, Wu Jia, Jiang Yajie and PIK Executive Director Wang Lei, I'm Paul James saying good-bye from Xi'an.