Paris is the metropolis that attracts people most among all world cities; it is currently the city with the highest number of tourists. Why are Paris, as the "city of art" and "city of flowers," so enchanting? In terms of its excellent quality of life, many dream of living in this gentle metropolis. Its developed industry and commerce, social prosperity, abundance of food and clothing, convenience in everything, flourishing humanities and arts, open-mindedness, outstanding aesthetic beauty, poetic lifestyle, and romantic sentiment are unique.
Paris often leads the way in avant-garde art, humanistic trends, new wave cinema, fashionable clothing, exquisite cuisine, high technology, and tourism. The entire metropolis perfectly integrates from classical to modern times, resembling a complete history of French civilization evolution. It clearly affirms that the most important industrial resource for tourism is its unique culture and traditions, preserving historical monuments and artifacts while developing new cultural fields; this is what makes Paris most enchanting.
Paris focuses on the development of originality, which are the most important commercial resources for tourism. Through continuous restoration and construction of its own unparalleled cultural assets, and further development of new culture, especially since the 1980s when the French Socialist Party came to power, advocating cultural sharing and liberating the middle class's cultural concepts, under the concept of popularized culture, all museums and art galleries were free on the first Sunday of every month. Subsequently, the promotion of the "Music Festival" in late June, which brought classical and modern music out of the ivory tower to the masses on streets and squares for everyone to share, has now become a folk festival popular in major metropolises worldwide.
Free "concerts and theater" and "circus" or evening outdoor "movies" in various parks during summer, followed by the "Night of Museums" in October allowing Parisians to party until dawn. Or the innovative "Garden Festival" opening various public and private gardens in Paris, with special introductions to Parisian horticulture, plants, and flowers. On the familiar "Heritage Days," one can even visit the Presidential Palace, and citizens enjoy it tirelessly. Or the "Seine River Festival," through which people gain a deeper understanding of the Seine's ecology and policy promotion. Besides occasional sculpture exhibitions on the Champs-Élysées or this year's (2006) "Cow Exhibition," not to mention the various exhibitions, concerts, theaters, operas, and activities in Paris. Is living in Paris a gift from heaven or a destined blessing? It seems that being a Parisian means never feeling lonely or bored.
In recent years, under Mayor Bertrand Delanoë of the Socialist Party's new municipal administration (jointly governed by the Socialist and Green parties), the city government has implemented many measures regarding urban ecology and environmental protection, such as transportation and urban environment renovation and greening, and the concept of sharing cultural resources, including opening all municipal art galleries and museums for free. These are innovative developments for Paris tourism. What leads the trend and shows originality is Paris's summer "beach," which surprises Parisians and tourists/pilgrims from around the world with delight. Because in late July and late August (for about a month), most Parisians go on vacation, leaving the city to those who cannot go away. The Paris city government, inspired by some inspiration, made this forward-looking initiative: on the busy Voie Georges Pompidou along the Seine in the core area of Paris, like a magician turning stone into gold overnight, it transformed into "Paris Beach." Patches of white sand beaches, sunshades everywhere, people sunbathing, palm trees, flags, ice water stalls, volleyball courts, shower areas, drinking fountains, picnic zones, climbing walls, concerts, acrobatics, etc., attract thousands of participants, becoming the most innovative activity in Paris during the hot summer and a must-visit place for pilgrims to Paris.
