Anhui province recently launched a winter tourism promotion event in an effort to attract more tourists for the season.

The provincial tourism administration has specially designed six tourist routes, taking in snow-covered scenery in southern Anhui, hot springs in central Anhui and rich history and folk customs in northern Anhui.

Huangshan Mountain in southern Anhui is a must-go scenic spot, made famous by its beautiful pine trees, strangely shaped jagged rocks, and rapidly changing clouds. Although Huangshan Mountain is beautiful all year around, it takes on a new look in winter when snow settling on the pine trees and rocks transforms the area into a fairyland. The relatively low number of tourists is an additional bonus.

Although Huangshan Mountain is beautiful all year around, it takes on a new look in winter when snow settling on the pine trees and rocks transforms the area into a fairyland.

In central Anhui, tourists are recommended to drive away the chill of winter in Chaohu city, a land dotted with hot springs. Gold Peacock, Bantang, Tang Pool and Fragrant Spring are the city’s the four most celebrated hot springs. Bathing in these hot springs has a great many health benefits, and has been known to cure many kinds of diseases, such as skin diseases.

The Golden Peacock Spa Resort in Chaohu city is a top ranking hot spring resort, the largest of its kind in eastern China.

Bozhou in northern Anhui is not considered a tourism hotspot due to relatively inconvenient public transportation to and from the area. However, those who do make the decision to travel there will definitely be impressed with its rich history and colorful folk customs. Bozhou is the hometown of Cao Cao, a renowned warlord during the Three Kingdoms Period. The Underground Tunnel built by Cao Cao for Transporting Troops, is referred to as the underground Great Wall. The city is also home to Hua Tuo, one of the most notable doctors in Chinese history. Today, the city boasts one of the biggest Chinese medicinal trading markets, and is known as one of the four medicine capitals of China.

The Underground Tunnel built by Cao Cao for Transporting Troops, is referred to as the underground Great Wall.

The winter tourism promotion program will last until March 15, 2011. Tourists can get special offers on accommodation and admission fees during the period.

By Lu Hong (China Daily Shanghai Bureau)

Editor: Li Jing