Western China is markedly different from eastern China in climate, land forms and culture. Western China is home to a variety of Muslim and Buddhist groups whose history and culture are critical elements in the tourist attractions in the region. Tourist attractions related to China's distinctive religious minorities include both historic and functional temples, mosques, and other distinctive phenomenon. The culture of the individual groups present important attractions to tourists, and include the easily recognizable dress styles, structures and foods associated with each group. The distinctive attractions of western China have prompted a rapid growth in the number of tourists visiting the region. Future growth is handicapped by the challenges presented by sheer distance, local transport conditions, standard of hotels in many of the destinations, and the potential for political unrest among China's minority religion groups such as the Muslims. Nonetheless, the presence of the religious groups in western China is the primary attraction for tourism to this broad region of the world. In spite of the challenges presented to tourism the region continues to experience growth in numbers of visitors and construction of new facilities to make the potential for even greater growth feasible.