Beijing sees record festival tourists        2/9/2009 10:24:49 PM

The municipal tourism authority said yesterday it handled 3.24 million domestic tourists from Jan 25-31, up 20 percent on last year, and gained 2.155 billion yuan ($314 million) of income, up 32 percent.

"It is a very good start for us in the Year of Ox," Yu Debin, deputy director of the tourism administration, said.

The boom was due to the city's unprecedented promotion of tourism - 50,000 tickets to scenic spots were given away free and hotels slashed room rates, Zhang Huiguang, head of the administration, said.

The promotions attracted 830,000 tourists from outside Beijing, up 28 percent on last year, and they spent a record 1.714 billion yuan, Zhang said.

Temple fairs, Olympic venues and ski slopes were among the most popular attractions.

The temple fair at Ditan Park was said to be the most popular of Beijing's seven temple fairs. It received more than 1.2 million people in eight days, up 20 percent.

Beijinger Zhang Tingting said this year's temple fairs were distinctive.

"All the popular snacks were gathered in one place and folk artists showed off their talent. You just feel thrilled in the festive atmosphere," she said.

Zhang visited three temple fairs with her family. At one of them she spent more than 300 yuan on snacks and gifts.