Download
Roaming the narrow streets of Montargis, a small provincial town about 110 kilometers south of Paris, you wouldn't find anything particularly attractive to tourists.
With a population of less than 16,000, the town does not have high-end boutiques with French luxury brands or the magnificent architecture or monuments emblematic of French grandeur and romance. Perhaps the only things it is well known for are its flowered bridges and winding canals.
But these days the town is seeing an increase in tourism from China because of its unique historical links.
Montargis was the place where hundreds of young Chinese students came to study and work in the early years of the 20th century, with the hope of modernizing China by learning from the West.
The most prominent students included future Chinese political leaders Deng Xiaoping, Chen Yi (former vice-premier and second foreign minister of China), Nie Rongzhen (one of the 10 marshals of China) and Cai Hesen (one of earliest leaders of the Communist Party of China). Zhou Enlai was also a frequent visitor to the city in the 1920s.
Local authorities created a Chinese tourist trail several years ago to tap into China's booming tourism market and to promote Montargis as a must-see destination for those who want to discover how China entered the history of a small French town that played a key role in the formation of the CPC.
Today tourists can follow signs in both French and Chinese pointing out historic sites and buildings in Montargis associated with Chinese history in France.
One important site is the school Deng attended, known as the Gambetta Secondary School, which is now the Town Hall of Montargis.
"The apartment that Deng used to live in was turned into the reception room of the Town Hall. But if you look through the window, the view remains exactly what Deng saw, since the town has barely changed over the years," said Stephane Poisson, Town Hall chief of staff.
Tourists could also visit the Hutchinson rubber factory where Deng used to work and rest in the quiet Durzy gardens where Cai Hesen and his wife Xiang Jingyu presented their ideas on saving China and building a new society to their compatriots in 1920.
Montargis is also the place where Cai sent the famous letter to Mao Zedong, who later became the founder of New China, in which he explained the necessity of creating a political party to establish a new society.
About the broadcaster:
Lee Hannon is Chief Editor at China Daily with 15-years experience in print and broadcast journalism. Born in England, Lee has traveled extensively around the world as a journalist including four years as a senior editor in Los Angeles. He now lives in Beijing and is happy to move to China and join the China Daily team.
别怪我扫兴,但喝酒真的致癌
国内英语资讯:Feature: China gifts well-equipped school building to remote Sri Lankan village
国内英语资讯:China supports Europe in playing more active role in global affairs: FM
国内英语资讯:Chinese, Japanese officials, entrepreneurs discuss cooperation on energy saving, environment
体坛英语资讯:Bayerns Coman pens contract extension
NASA提出新的概念引擎,据说能达到光速的99%
体坛英语资讯:Brazils Botafogo name former striker as coach
Christmas gift alternatives 不一样的圣诞礼物
英语美文:学会规划时间,生活才能变好
国际英语资讯:Syrian president supports Russia-Turkey memorandum on northern Syria situation: Kremlin
Britain's historic landmarks to be protected 英格兰新增一批“受保护历史建筑”
为什么一到新年就要下决心?原来这是个悠久传统
国内英语资讯:China Focus: China wins global applause for efforts in world peacekeeping
我国多地区陷入天然气供应告急
北京烤鸭在纽约火了!600多元一只烤鸭,预定排到明年二月!
如何真正的爱自己?
国内英语资讯:China Focus: Chinas first domestic large amphibious aircraft makes maiden flight
国际英语资讯:5 killed in IS ambush in northern Iraq
水陆两栖飞机AG600首飞成功
国内英语资讯:Yearender-Economic Watch: Foreign companies keen on Chinas clean energy drive
体坛英语资讯:Liaoning stops losing streak by edging powerhouse Guangdong
2017年,我们了解到哪些科学新知?
国际英语资讯:Protests continue across Lebanon despite PMs reform measures
国际英语资讯:Turkey dismisses over 2,700 employees under new decrees
国际英语资讯:U.S. Senate approves North Macedonia to NATO
英国圣诞传统知识问答
国内英语资讯:China to advance energy revolution, enhance global cooperation: vice premier
国内英语资讯:Interview: China-Thailand high-speed railway upgrades Thailands transport system: expert
国际英语资讯:British PM to drop pledge to bring back foxhunting in rural England: report
体坛英语资讯:Guerrero to keep fighting to overturn doping ban
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |