Hunan has intensified the overall planning, standardized management and regular supervision over famous scenic areas in the province. “Decision about Construction of Tourism Province” and “Tourism Development Planning of Hunan ‘Twelfth-five year’” (short for “planning”) were formally delivered on June 18 by Hunan government.

According to the “planning”, there are 6 cities covering Xiangjiang river tourism economy belt. It was introduced by Yang Guangrong- Director of Hunan Tourism Bureau that after investigation in earlier stage, over 200 tourism resources were discovered along Xiangjiang River. More than 140 tourism places are cultural landscapes; more than 100 places are natural sceneries and there are more than 30 ancient towns, villages and streets. Estern Rhine of Xiangjiang River tourism planning is expected to be discharged at the end of 2012, and it will be guided by experience from European Rhine to be forged to be the real “new eastern Rhine”.

There are 16 state-level scenic areas and 39 provincial-level tourist attractions in Hunan. Wulingyuan Scenic Area and Langshan Mountain are known as world heritage sites. Furthermore, during “twelfth-year plan”, Hunan government will keep supporting and making phoenix, Langshan, Huaminglou, Emperor Yan mausoleum, Dongjianghu River, and Emperor Shun mausoleum to be 5A level tourism zones. Once reached that goal, there would be 5A level tourism zones of 6-10 available in Hunan province. Meanwhile, Hunan government will increase the establishment of 4A and 3A tourism zones with the number of 30-35 and 40-50 separately.