This month, China will allow tourists to book cruises to the Paracel Islands, a cluster of 40 islets, outcrops and reefs in the South China Sea. Vietnam and Taiwan also claim the Paracels as their own. <\/p>\n
Chinawill this month start allowing tourists to visit theParacel Islands, one of a group of disputed islets and reefs in theSouthChinaSea, state news agencyXinhuasaid, a move likely to irk rival claimantVietnam. <\/p>\n
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A cruise ship that can accommodate 1,965 passengers is ready for sailing to theParacels, known in Chinese as Xisha,Xinhuareported, citing ship ownerHaihang Group Corp. <\/p>\n
HainanHarbour and Shipping Holdings Co is building another cruise ship. <\/p>\n
\"Tourists will eat and sleep on the cruise ships and can land on the islands for sightseeing\" ahead of Labour Day on May 1, Tan Li, vice governor ofChina's southernmost island province ofHainan, toldXinhualate on Saturday. <\/p>\n
There is only one hotel with 56 rooms on Woody Island, the largest island in theParacels, the agency said. <\/p>\n
\"Prices will be relatively high due to the high costs of tourism infrastructure construction,\"Huang Huaru, general manager of a tourism agency inHainan, toldXinhua. <\/p>\n
Last year,Chinaapproved the formal establishment of a military garrison in Sansha city, which is located on Woody Island. The city administers the mostly uninhabited islands in theSouthChinaSeawhichChinaclaims. <\/p>\n
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China will open disputed islands to tourists<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This month, China will allow tourists to book cruises to the Paracel Islands, a cluster of 40 islets, outcrops and reefs in the South China Sea. Vietnam and Taiwan also claim the Paracels as their own. Chinawill this month start allowing tourists to visit theParacel Islands, one of a group of disputed islets and reefs in theSouthChinaSea, state news agencyXinhuasaid, a move likely to irk rival claimantVietnam Continue reading