Otago planning Chinese heritage trail: 08-07-2008
New Zealand is planning to set up a Chinese heritage trail to link the newly opened Chinese Garden in Dunedin to sites in Central Otago.
The idea is still to be discussed by the relevant local authorities but it would link the $7 million garden with historic goldmining sites.
Local authorities are thought to be interested in the idea because it explores Otago's links with its Chinese heritage.
"Throughout Otago, you can still find families descended from those original Chinese miners that came here," Otago Forward chairman Clive Geddes told The Press.
According to Dr Jim Ng, one of the project's organisers, the route will be based around the Chinese village located in Arrowtown.
He said it was a "mecca" that was well preserved and compact and it could contain some of the "best-preserved mining relics and sites in the world".
According to the Otago tourism website, the region attracts travellers looking for stunning mountain scenery as well as lakes and its well-known gold mining heritage.
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