Dunhuang city in west China's Gansu Province is boosting its tourism industry by recreating an image of how it was during both the Han (206 B.C. to 220 A.D.) and Tang Dynasty (A.D. 618-907), which were peak times in the city's history.

Dunhuang is investing several hundred million yuan to improve the city's tourism infrastructure and constructing several new sights to make the city more attractive and entice tourists to stay longer.

The construction plan includes refilling the Dan river and building a Han and Tang style commercial street.

The city of Dunhuang was an important station along the famed Silk Road and has several great tourist attractions, including the Yang Pass, the Yumen Pass, the Singing Sand Dunes, the Crescent Spring and the Mogao Grotto.

The number of visitors to the city exceeded one million people in 2005.

(CRIENGLISH.com May 25, 2006)