Red Tourism Routes Launched by China and Russia

　　Souvenir statues of former Chinese leader Mao Zedong line a shelf at a market in his hometown, Shaoshan, Central China's Hunan province, Dec 14, 2013. [Photo/IC]　

　　China and Russia each published five themed travel routes to jointly promote "red tourism", according to an agreement signed by tourism chiefs from the two countries on Monday in Hunan, the home province of Chairman Mao.

　　Over 20 travel agencies from both countries signed a cooperation agreement to carry out tours and collaborate on marketing, according to Xinhua.

　　This year marks the 70th anniversary of the victory of China's war against Japan and Russia's Great Patriotic War.

　　Here are the red-themed tours published by China and Russia:

　　Five routes launched by China:

　　1. An eight-day, seven-night ancient capitals tour

　　Beijing - Xi'an - Luoyang - Zhengzhou

　　2. A eight-day, seven-night ocean-oriented tour

　　Beijing - Dalian

　　3. A eight-day, seven-night water town tour

　　Shanghai - Hangzhou - Suzhou - Nanjing

　　4. A eight-day, seven-night tour to Chairman Mao's hometown

　　Shanghai - Zhangjiajie – Shaoshan – Changsha

　　5. A 12-day, 11-night island tour

　　Sanya - Wuzhi Mountain – Qionghai – Wanning

　　Five routes published by Russia:

　　1. Moscow - Ulyanovsk - Kazan - St. Petersburg, eight days, seven nights

　　2. Moscow - Ulyanovsk – Samara – Moscow, seven days, six nights

　　3. Moscow - St. Petersburg, six days, five nights

　　4. Kazan – Ulyanovsk – Samara, six days, five nights

　　5. Moscow – Kazan – Ulyanovsk – Moscow, eight days, seven nights

　　Besides the new national-level routes, Hunan province has five provincial tour routes and an international one. Tourists can visit Mao's former residence and important sites from the Long March and the Anti-Japanese War. The international route features a self-driving trip from Shaoshan in Hunan, the hometown of Chairman Mao to Ulyanovsk, Lenin's hometown.