The number of overseas tourists coming to China's mainland witnessed a steady increase during the period from January to June 2001, according to sources at the National Tourism Administration.

By the end of June, the number of tourists entering China's mainland totaled some 18.09 million, an increase of 11.9 percent compared with the same period last year. The number of tourists from foreign countries amounted to 8.42 million, up 14.8 percent.

The number of tourists from the Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan reached 5.86 million, 604,400 and 1.2 million, respectively, increases of 4.9, 10.4 and 19.0 percent compared to the same period of last year.

Statistics show that the ten provinces and municipalities hosting the most tourists in the first seven months of the year were Guangdong, Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Fujian, Guangxi, Zhejiang, Yunnan, Shandong and Shaanxi.

(Xinhua 09/08/2001)