REGIONAL> Major News
Baise banking on theme park to improve lives of rural people
By Yang Zhen and Huo Yan (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-01-15 07:37

NANNING: Baise, a city close to the Vietnam border in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, is building a theme park to mark the 80th anniversary of the Baise revolution, a top official said Wednesday.

Speaking on the sidelines of the regional people's congress, which ended yesterday, Liu Zhengdong, Party secretary of Baise, said the project is a great opportunity to improve the lives of local rural people.

The theme park is being built around key sites linked to the 1929 Baise revolution, which was initiated by the late leader Deng Xiaoping.

"Thanks to the revolution, Baise became a well-known city in China," Liu said.

"Today, we feel it is our responsibility to prepare a series of events to celebrate its 80th anniversary.

"At the same time, we hope to use the opportunity to raise people's awareness of the lives of our rural residents," he said.

Despite its revolutionary significance, Baise is not a wealthy city and its economy lags behind most others in Guangxi.

The average annual income for rural residents was 2,770 yuan ($405) last year, about 25 percent less than the regional average of 3,700 yuan.

At the people's congress, the Baise government submitted a proposal seeking help on infrastructure construction to provide rural people with improved transport services, a better power system, cleaner drinking water and more schools.

The government is waiting for approval for the more than 10 billion yuan needed for the projects, Liu said.

As this year marks the 80th anniversary of the revolution, Baise is also seeking to cash in the expected boom in tourism, Liu said.

The city has always been a popular destination for people interested in the revolution, and more than 6.4 million visited last year, generating 2.8 billion yuan, he said.

More than 7 million people are expected to visit the city this year, he said.

"We will not only repair and enhance important sites associated with the revolution, but also improve our overall services for tourists, such as making travel easy, opening gift shops, and providing public toilets and parking lots," Liu said.

"We will also add sculptures and stage performances in the park so that tourists can feel the revolution's spirit all around."

The central government has already contributed 20 million yuan toward the cost of the theme park, Liu said.