Foreign visitors seeking Christmas spirit in China

• Source: Global Times
• [00:40 December 25 2009]
• Comments

A group of about 50 photographers dressed as Santa Claus try to take reaction shots of people after they discover the large number of Santas in Luoyang, Henan Province Thursday. They also gave candy and stationery to children and to kids at a school for the mentally impaired. Photo: CFP

By Lin Meilian

The number of foreign tourists who will spend the Christmas holiday in China has increased this year, authorities said Thursday.

Beijing General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection told the Global Times Thursday that 56,000 international visitors arrived in the capital between December 18 and the Christmas Eve.

The figure is 5,000 more than the same week last year.

Another 12,000 international tourists arrived in Shanghai each day between December 19 and 23, China News Service reported Wednesday.

An overseas visitor who landed in Shanghai told the agency that the city is becoming more attractive to foreigners and pointed to next year's World Expo as one reason.

She wanted to spend the holiday in a Chinese atmosphere.

Some tourists need to take transit flights in other cities because of the short of direct flight tickets, the report said.

Some foreigners believe it is cheaper to spend the Christmas holidays in China.