China bans tourism disguised as government business

BEIJING - Government meetings have been forbidden at 21 popular destinations as part of an ongoing frugality campaign by China's central authorities.

The General Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council issued a circular banning Party and government authorities at all levels from holding meetings at Huangshan Mountain in Anhui Province, Lushan Mountain in Jiangxi Province and 19 other popular tourist destinations, including the Badaling Section of the Great Wall and the Ming Tombs in Beijing.

The circular said that a 1998 ban did not stop government meetings in the listed sites and meetings have been held in other popular spots from time to time, damaging the image of the Party and the government.

Also banned are tourist trips in the name of meetings.