Hebei to develop tourism in Xiongan New Area

SHIJIAZHUANG, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in north China's Hebei Province plan to make Xiongan New Area a "pilot zone" for tourism development.

Xiongan New Area, covering Xiongxian, Rongcheng and Anxin counties, is about 100 kilometers south of Beijing. In April, the central government announced plans for the New Area, which will facilitate the coordinated development of Beijing and the surrounding region.

The tourism industry in Xiongan will be developed in accordance with the new area's general plan, as well as with the ecological management of Baiyangdian, Hebei's biggest lake. The lake is in Anxin County.

It will incorporate hot springs, local culture, and existing tourism resources in Baiyangdian to create a comprehensive pilot tourism zone, authorities said at a tourism conference in Hebei's Qinhuangdao City.