Olympic venues to become hot spots during National Day holiday
[ 2008-09-23 14:13 ]
With the Beijing Games still fresh in their minds, many wanting to travel during the National Day Holiday, are heading for the capital.
For the upcoming golden week holiday, some of the most popular tour sites in China are no doubt the Olympic venues. Beijing, already the country's number one destination for domestic tourists, can expect even more visitors this year, desperate to take a personal look at the Birds' Nest and the Water Cube.
One Guangzhou citizen said "The Olympic venues looked stunning in the Games. Now I want to see them with my own eyes."
Beijing's traffic authorities anticipate that public transport system will need to handle up to 100 million travellers during the 7-day Golden Week Holiday, 15 percent more than last year-largely a result of post-Olympic fever.
But for others who want to avoid the hustle and bustle of city life, they're turning to the natural beauty of Sichuan Province. Travel agencies say with the earthquake in May scaring off nervous tourists, they're offering discounts to lure them back. And with many roads suffering damage from the quake, the only way to visit the famously scenic Jiuzhaigou, is to board a plane. And that means fewer people, and a much less crowded and more peaceful holiday. And an added benefit, every visitor to the region adds just a little more to the recovery of the local economy.