Southwest Sichuan Province has invested 3.15 billion yuan (US$380 million) on a highway project, which will greatly shorten the distance from Chengdu, Sichuan's capital, to the scenic resort of Jiuzhaigou.

Construction of the 82-km highway, from Dujiangyan, a scenic city neighboring Chengdu, to Wenchuan, is expected to be finished in December of 2007, at which time it will only take six hours to drive between Jiuzhaigou and Chengdu, reducing the driving time by several hours.

Though an airport opened on Sept. 28, serving Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, and it takes just 40 minutes to fly from Chengdu to the scenic spots, more and more tourists tend to enjoy traveling by vehicles, a fashionable and economical way.

Jiuzhaigou, listed as a World Heritage site by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), is famous for its waterfalls, snow peaks, deep valleys and colorful forests.
 
(Xinhua News Agency November 11, 2003)