2008 Top Ten Popular Tourist Attractions

1. Beijing

A song "Beijing Welcomes You" ignited the 2008 Beijing tourism craze. From the completion of the construction of various Olympic venues, Beijing has continuously welcomed tourists from all over the world. Hotels and inns once experienced continuous full capacity, price surges, and difficulty in finding a room. Nowadays, Beijing not only features classic attractions such as the Forbidden City, Tiananmen, the Great Wall, and the Summer Palace, but also new Olympic landmarks like the Water Cube, Bird's Nest, and the Olympic Park. Contrary to previous predictions about the "post-Olympic era," Beijing's tourism heat surged after the Olympics. The Beijing Tourism Information Network estimates that this trend will continue until the end of 2009.

2. Jiuzhaigou

Jiuzhaigou has attracted countless tourists with its unique, fairy-tale-like scenery and has been a popular tourist destination for many years. This year's Wenchuan earthquake caused tremendous losses to our compatriots and cast a shadow over Jiuzhaigou tourism. After a period of rest, Jiuzhaigou remains a hotspot and tops the list as the "King of Chinese Water Scenery" on major search engines.

3. Bali

The charm of Bali lies not only in its romantic tropical atmosphere, stunning blue seas and white sands, and water activities like surfing and diving, but also in its unique culture, art, and traditional SPA treatments. As the birthplace of SPA, Bali is undoubtedly a dream destination for beauty-loving women. Moreover, Bali's low cost and high cost-effectiveness make it the top choice for Southeast Asian island tours. According to statistics from Ctrip.com and Xinyou.com, domestic tourists to Bali increased more than doubled in 2008. In July 2008, Bali won the title of the "World's Best Tourist Island."