Traveler's Advisory

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Beijing
Corruption is on the rise in China, and the Communist Party is determined to stamp it out. One move in that campaign is an exhibition in the Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution exposing the "criminals' failures and evil ways." The show, which runs through Sept. 20, presents 70 cases ranging from bribe taking to computer fraud; the spoils on display include a lounge suite, bottles of liquor, a refrigerator and bags of cash. Pride of place goes to the misdeeds of Cheng Kejie, a former vice-chairman of the National People's Congress, who is appealing a death sentence for accepting $4.8 million in bribes.


Trails
Ten years in the making, the United States' first coast-to-coast, automobile-free trail officially opened this month. The 10,200-km American Discovery Trail runs from the west-coast Point Reyes National Seashore, near San Francisco, to the east-coast Cape Henlopen State Park in Delaware, splitting into two branches in the Midwest. The route, which covers back-country paths, city streets and canal towpaths, passes through 15 states and leads to 14 national parks and 16 national forests. While its entire length can be walked, many segments are also open to cyclists and horse riders. See www. discoverytrail.org.


Paris
The first desert photographers were scientists and explorers, not artists. But their images of vast sand dunes and nomadic tribesmen captured Europeans' imagination. In "The Desert," the Cartier Foundation of Contemporary Art juxtaposes these 19th century photographs with commissioned projects by 10 contemporary artists. Highlights include Swiss artist Beat Streuli's "Alice to Uluru, January '00," comprising 250 slides taken during long drives through and flights over the Australian outback, William Eggleston's snaps of signs and lonely shacks in the southwest U.S. desert and Titouan Lamazou's images of the desert people and animals of Timbuktu, Mali, which he sketched over the photographs of Raymond Depardon. Through Nov. 5.


Transport

The coast between South Africa and Kenya boasts some of world's most beautiful beaches, reefs and islands. But until recently it's been impossible to drive the length of the continent's east coast without detouring inland to avoid rivers and other natural obstacles. A new ferry service across the Rovuma river, which divides Mozambique and Tanzania, is the final link in what is becoming a popular African journey. The ferry runs at full tide and costs between $7 and $15 depending on the size and type of vehicle. Tip: four-wheel-drive vehicles are still recommended.