Chengdu, China, is already quite famous for its giant panda sanctuary. However, the Chinese government would like to boost tourism to the region and apparently those pandas, as adorable as they are, are not drawing enough tourists. So, what is China's solution? Smurfs! Yes, those little blue mushroom-dwellers are getting a new lease on life: in China. The Wall Street Journal reports: The beloved, animated blue creatures — famous for their white caps, cheery theme song, and proclivity for using the name of their race as a verb — are moving to Chengdu, where development firm Chengdu Teda Sino-Europe Construction and Smurf-brand owner IMPS plan to open a Smurf theme park, according to a report from DTZ Asia Property Market Update. With investment of 20 million yuan, or about $2.9 m

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For most of us, traveling overseas means budgeting carefully to contain costs. However, if you just won the lottery or are otherwise lucky enough to have money to burn, you might be interested in Gadling's write up of China's newly re-opened luxury hotel. The Peace Hotel, which just opened its doors back up after a 3-year, $64 million renovation, has rooms that start at $340 per night and go up to $1000 per night. Splurge on rooms here, at you can walk in the footsteps of former US Presidents Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter and silent-film legend Charlie Chaplin, all of whom stayed here often in the past. Rooms and suites feature amenities like walk-in closets, luxury bathrooms, flat-screen CDs, powder rooms and in some cases, even dining suites so you can entertain guests in style. Sur

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