Going to town

Tourists sample the many attractions of Liushui town, Ankang city, Shaanxi province, not least boating on the Hanjiang River on March 28. The various activities are guaranteed to work up a good appetite and there are plenty of traditional and relaxing restaurants more than willing to take their orders. To cleanse the palate after the meal, green tea, a local specialty freshly picked by workers from the tea gardens, can be savored, as can fruit delivered straight from the nearby orchards. Many of the cultural sites that adorn the ancient town can be traced back to the Qin and Western Han dynasties (221 BC-AD 24).

Now, as one of the key water sources for the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, the town's natural environment has been well preserved. The town has become a tourist favorite as its organic produce, laid-back lifestyle and cultural heritage attract visitors from near and from afar.