The Chinese capital received a record 2.82 million overseas tourists last year, an increase of 11. 8 percent over 1999.

These visitors brought an estimated US$2.77 billion to Beijing, up 10.9 percent year on year.

Figures released by the Beijing Tourism Bureau Wednesday show that foreign tourists to Beijing were 2.38 million last year, up 14 percent than in 1999. The rest of the tourists are from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.

There were more tourists last year from countries in Asia and America, with a year-on-year increase of 19.81 and 22.69 percent respectively.

In addition, the city's star hotels hosted 5.72 million domestic tourists in 2000, up 33.29 percent from the year-ago period, bureau officials said.

The 3,000-year-old Chinese capital is famous for its many historical sites, including the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, and the Summer Palace.

(People’s Daily 01/11/2001)