China tourism is known as the "Smokeless Industry" or the "Invisible Trade." It is an emerging economic sector which features less investment and big profits. The industry is not only related to beautiful attractions, but also to a large number of services, including transportation, dining, shopping and entertainment.
With China's rapid development, more and more Chinese have taken to traveling on holidays. According to the 2011 data of China National Tourism Administration, the nation had at that time received 135 million inbound tourists and earned US$48.46 billion in foreign exchange revenues, a 1.2% and 5.8% increase respectively compared to 2010. The number of domestic tourists exceeded 2.64 billion and income reached up to 1.9 trillion yuan (US$304.7 billion), increasing 13.2% and 23.6% respectively compared to the 2010 numbers. Tourism has become one of China's fastest growing industries.
According to the report, this year's rankings are based on six tourist criteria, including the inbound tourism number, the domestic tourism number, tourism foreign exchange earnings, domestic tourism income, the number of star hotels and the number of outstanding scenic spots (rated higher than 4A).
Top 1: Beijing
Beijing, the capital of China, is a great city with a history of more than 3,000 years. It's the center of the country's politics, economy, culture and art. As one of China's ancient capitals, Beijing is home to a great number of cultural and historical sites, which make it a huge magnet attracting numerous tourists from all over the world. The top attraction has to be Tian'anmen Square, the world's largest city square and an icon of China. On the north side of the Square lies the 600-year-old Forbidden City, the largest and the best-preserved imperial palace on the planet.
Also, make sure you do not neglect the Summer Palace, the largest and best-preserved royal garden in China. Other top Beijing attractions include the breathtaking Great Wall of China, Temple of Heaven, Temple of Earth, National Stadium and Beijing 798 Art Zone. You can also tour the various traditional hutongs and courtyards to experience the hustle and bustle of local life. All these should be contained in your Beijing tour package.
Top 2: Guangzhou
Guangzhou, also known as Canton, is China's third biggest city. It is famous throughout China and the world for its cuisine and foreign trade. Aside from the endless skyscrapers and shopping malls in this dynamic metropolis, there is a lot of culture and history to see. As one of the twenty-four most famous historical and cultural cities across China, Guangzhou boasts numerous historical relics, including the Bright Filial Piety Temple, the Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family and the Western Han Nanyue King's Tomb Museum. Additionally, the city features a large amount of western style architecture such as the Sacred Heart Cathedral.
Top 3: Shanghai
Sitting on the estuary of the Yangtze River, Shanghai is a renowned international metropolis as well as a popular tourist destination. Tourists will marvel at the views in this vibrant land, which perfectly blends traditional with modern elements, as well as eastern with western culture. Famous historical landmarks, including the Bund, the City God Temple and the Yuyuan Garden should not be missed when touring this city. The Bund, a 1.5-kilometer long waterfront area, is noted for dozens of splendid historical buildings in various styles, including Gothic, Baroque, Romanesque, Renaissance, and Neo-Classical which are must-sees for Shanghai tour packages.
Another stunning attraction is the Pudong Skyline, which features a number of mega skyscrapers including the symbolic Oriental Pearl Tower, the Jin Mao Tower, the Shanghai World Financial Center and the presently-under-construction 632-meter Shanghai Tower. Tourists will also be enthralled to go to the Memorial Site for the First National Congress of the CPC, Shanghai Xintiandi (New Heaven and Earth), and the premier shopping street-Nanjing Road.
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