Malaysian travelers were amazed by the natural scenery and cultural heritage of scenic spots, listed as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage sites, in central China's Hunan Province.
China's inbound tourism continues to gain momentum. A Malaysian tour group recently traveled along the Zhangjiajie-Langshan-Guilin route, which links three UNESCO World Natural Heritage sites across Hunan Province and the neighboring Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and is home to some of China's most spectacular landscapes.
They walked along cliffside plank roads, drifted on bamboo rafts through the mountains, and shared their travel experiences.
"We are from Malaysia. When traveling to China, I love to visit distinctive places like Zhangjiajie and Guilin. The Bajiaozhai and Camel Peak scenic spots in Langshan are truly spectacular and breathtaking. It's also a place where you can 'slow down' and enjoy an in-depth experience. This time, I specially brought my family to explore this Zhangjiajie-Langshan-Guilin golden tourism route. It's great value and well worth the trip," said Yan, a Malaysian tourist. At Bajiaozhai and the Fuyi River, both part of the Langshan Mountain Scenic Area in Hunan, they also rode cable cars for panoramic views of the peaks.
"The air here is fresh and the climate is cool. Coming from Malaysia, I really enjoy the beautiful scenery. The mountains and waters are stunning, and the local facilities and services are also very well developed," Ou, another Malaysian tourist.
Malaysian tourists discover peaks, rivers, cultural heritage of China's UNESCO sites
Tanzania has intensified border health screenings at its key ports and airports to prevent the importation of the Ebola virus from the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where the outbreak shows no sign of abating.
According to the DRC's Ministry of Health, as of Saturday, the country had recorded 2,973 confirmed Ebola cases and 1,309 deaths since the epidemic began. In response, all of the DRC's neighbors have stepped up preventive measures, with Tanzania implementing stringent protocols at its major transit hubs.
The international boundary between the two countries runs through Lake Tanganyika, making Kigoma the primary maritime link for cross-border trade. Since the Ebola outbreak in the DRC, Tanzanian health authorities have reinforced quarantine inspections at the port.
"So before they disembark from the boat or in a vessel, we are doing most of the screening interventions through thermal scanner and handheld thermal scanners. We are checking the temperature and to see those which have been highlighted or those [with] rising temperature before they are taken for secondary screening," said Nelson Johh, health officer at Kigoma Lake Port.
The heightened vigilance extends beyond the waterfront. Kigoma's airport has also rolled out comprehensive anti-Ebola measures. All arriving and departing passengers are required to have their temperatures checked and hands sanitized. Foreign travelers, in particular, must register detailed personal information.
Meanwhile, Ebola prevention awareness videos are played on a loop in the airport lounge, and informational posters have been displayed across all terminal areas.
Tanzania is not alone in this effort. Other DRC neighbors, including Uganda, Rwanda, and Zambia, are also upgrading their border health screenings and tightening entry controls to contain any potential spread of the virus.
Tanzania steps up Ebola prevention measures as DRC outbreak rages on
