China's seven-day National Day holiday beginning Oct. 1 has ignited an upsurge in tourism among the people all over the country.
In the capital Beijing, top universities have become popular vacation attractions for teenagers and their parents.
Sources from Peking University said the campus has had thousands of tourists every day during the National Holiday.
Some parents told they believe taking their teen-agers to well-known universities is a kind of enlightenment which will help inspire the children to take the initiative and study.
In Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong Province in south China, more than 200,000 people left for other tourist destinations on Oct. 1 and Oct. 2. Baiyun Airport in the city handled up to 65,000passengers in the two days.
In Dalian, a port city in Liaoning Province in northeast China, ore than 5,000 local residents visited some tourist destinations in the suburbs. Dalian Airport processed 140,000 passengers on Oct.2 alone.
Xi'an, an ancient city and also capital of Shaanxi Province in the northwest, saw a flood of tourists in its traditional commercial street in the center of the city. The 500-meter-long street, featuring buildings in ancient architectural style, specializes in a variety of local snacks and folk arts and crafts. Tourists from home and abroad have come to appease their appetites and choose fine folk art works.
(Xinhua News Agency October 4, 2002)
