More than 1,000 people have applied for 30 vacancies in a promotional tour of the city's scenic spots headed by south China's Shenzhen's tourism chiefs including Chi Xiongbiao, director-general of the municipal tourism bureau.

The tour will inspect 28 scenic spots, from which Shenzhen's top eight scenic spots will be selected.

Originally, only two routes and 20 people were planned. But with the unexpected number of people wanting to sign on, a third route and 10 more people were added.

As the two hotlines were busy for most of the time during the application period, some people called the newspapers that had carried the tour announcement.

According to a source of the Shenzhen Municipal Tourism Bureau, 30 people will be selected from the applicants.

"Some spots are not so good in terms of transportation and facilities, so we only want young and middle-aged people for the tour," the source said.

The 30 people would comprise equal numbers of men and women and consideration would also be given to people who are not permanent Shenzhen residents.

An American applied through a Chinese friend. The source said it was possible to include the American in the tour if he could confirm his application. The tour will be conducted Saturday.

The selection of the final eight scenic spots will depend on the public votes and experts' recommendations, according to the tourism bureau.

Readers can lodge votes between Nov. 25 and Dec. 10.

(Shenzhen Daily November 20, 2003)