Beijing Tourism Administration will cooperate with Beijing's districts to organize scores of travel activities during the upcoming Labor Day holiday to attract visitors. All the parks, gardens, aquariums, and natural resorts will be decorated for the 7-day holiday. The administration has also provided two special telephone numbers for complaints: 86-10-65201028 and 86-10-65201029 (Chinese, English and Japanese). The lines are open from noon, April 30 to 8 am, May 8. They will be open 24 hours a day.

Dongcheng District

A tulip exhibition will be held at Zhongshan Park until May 20. More than 300,000 tulips of 55 different species are presented for visitors to the park.

Admission: 10 yuan (US$1.2) for adults; 5 yuan (60 cents) for students. Children under 1.2 meters free.

Where: East side of Tian'anmen tower.

To get there, take bus routes 1, 4, 5, 10, 37 or 120 to Zhongshan Park. Get off at Tian'anmen East Station if taking subway.

Tel: 6605-5431 ext 225 or 228.

Haidian District

Staff at Beijing Aquarium are busy preparing different performances for the upcoming May Day holiday.

This huge structure gives visitors a close-up view of the teeming life of the world's rivers and oceans. The porpoise performance and fish feeding times in the big tank are not to be missed.

Beijing Aquarium is promoting a limited number of cheap passport tickets. Anyone holding one can visit the aquarium anytime of the year for just 268 yuan (US$32) per adult and 138 yuan (US$17) per child.

All galleries are fully accessible and wheelchairs are available free of charge.

Regular admission: 100 yuan (US$12), students 50 yuan (US$6), seniors (over 60) 60 yuan (US$7.2). Up to two children under 1.2 meters admitted free with each adult. Aquarium tickets include admission to Beijing Zoo.

Opening hours: 9:30 am to 5pm (6 pm on Sat and Sun). Ticket sales finish at 4 pm.

Location: B18 Gaoliangqiao Xiejie, Haidian District.

Tel: 86-10-62176655.

Chaoyang District

Chaoyang Park

The Meet in Beijing festival will be featured in Chaoyang Park from April 30 to May 7. Meanwhile a pop music festival will also be held in the park. More than 230 famous music bands will offer 53 different performances during the eight days.

To get there, take bus routes 302,406, 731, 734, 831, or 815 to Chaoyang Park.

Location: one km east of Changhong Overpass on the East Third Ring Road or 500 meters west of Chaoyang Park Overpass on the East Fourth Ring Road.

Tel: 86-10-65067723

Ritan Park flower fair

The park stages its second flower exhibition until May 9.

To get to the park, take bus routes 1, 4, 57 or 729 to Ritanlu Station. The park's south gate is 400 meters north of the station.

Tel: 8561-4261

Tulip culture festival

The sixth tulip culture festival is underway in Yujinxiang (tulip) Garden at Jinzhanxiang. More than 300,000 tulips are on display here. Other pot flowers and plants and a pet show are also set in the garden. The festival will run until May 10.

Location: Yujinxiang Garden, Dongweilu, Chaoyang District.

To get there, take bus routes 364, 418, 908 or 735 to Yujinxiang Huayuan.

Or drive along the Airport Highway to Weigou Exit and then go to Dongweilu, thereafter taking a right.

Tel: 86-10-84327801

Summer Palace

picture perfect

Restoration of the Summer Palace's famous corridor of paintings of rural scenes will be finished in time for the May Day holiday.

The project began in late 2002 and cost 100 million yuan, or US$12 million.

The painted corridor was established in 1750 by Qian Long, the third emperor of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

It features scenes of rivers, lakes, paddy fields and mulberry fields.

Huairou District Flower festival

The first Flower Festival is underway at Xiangshui Lake Scenic Spot in Huairou District, 60 km northeast of downtown Beijing.

The most famous of the sites here are the waterfalls, precipitous peaks and the wild Great Wall. Walking along the lake, you will find the remains of an ancient stone-wall castle. The mountains and walls are surrounded by wild flowers.

Cost: 16 yuan (US$2) for entrance to Xiangshui Lake Scenic Spot.

You can also take bus 916 at Dongzhimen in central Beijing and get off at the Longshan Hotel.

If you drive yourself, go to Huairou Town first, then head for Mutianyu. Xiangshuihu is eight kilometers west of Mutianyu roundabout.

Tel: 86-10-89602539, 86-10-89602888 or its Beijing office phone: 86-10-68332337, 86-10-68334558

Hongluo Temple trip

The Hongluo Temple (legend has it that two spiral shells gave out red light in the evening) is located at the foot of the Hongluo Mountain, seven kilometers northwest of Huairou County.

First built in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the temple is worth a visit in early summer because of the wild flowers, fresh air and religious culture.

Covering an area of 16.6 acres, Hongluo Temple is the biggest temple in the northern area of Beijing.

Surrounded by hills dotted with pines and cypresses in different shapes, the temple is a place of quiet contemplation and is tastefully laid out.

Pearl Spring is to the west. The spring water is green and the rising bubbles are said to be like pearls. To the south, visitors can go boating, swimming and fishing in the Hongluo Reservoir.

There are towering old trees in the yard. Ginkgoes and green bamboo are further attractions.

Getting there: By tourist bus 6 or 16 from Xuanwumen, or go by 916 bus from Dongzhimen bus stop.

Location: four kilometers from Qingchun Road in the north Huairou.

Tel: 86-10-60681118

Chongwen District

Beijing Youleyuan's cartoon fair

Beijing Amusement Park, the largest kids entertainment park in the district will again hold cartoon carnival and festival performances from May 1 to 7.

The whole park will be transformed into a cartoon world by more than 1,000 art works. Most are based on Chinese and Western children's stories and novels. A cartoon parade will be held daily from May 1 to 7.

A model dinosaur display has been added for children.

Entrance fee: 90 yuan (US$11) per person over 1.4 meters; 60 yuan (US$7) for those between 1.1 meters and 1.4 meters, free for children under 1.1 meters. The fee includes entry to more than 25 attractions in the park.

For more information: 86-10-67111155

Longtan Park

Many performance troupes from a dozen African countries and France, Germany and the Ukraine will contribute national performances for the enjoyment of visitors to the park. These performers were invited for the Meet in Beijing festival.

The grand opening ceremony will be held from 4:30 pm to 6 pm May 1. Regular performances are staged from 10 am to 11:30 daily from May 2 to 4.

Yanqing County

Rafting on the Guihe River

Sponsored by Guihe Rafting Travel Service and Jinye International Travel Service, a rafting service is offered on Guihe River in the town of Yanqing, about 75 km north of downtown Beijing.

The river starts from a mountainous area in Songshan Primitive Forest, crosses Yudu mountain, Longqing Gorge, Jinniu hill and Yanqing and arrives at Guanting Reservoir. It's possible to travel the river by boat in about five hours. Both banks have wonderful natural scenery.

Entrance: 30 yuan (US$4)

Tel: 86-10-69189876, 86-10-69189877

To get there, take bus route 919 at Deshengmen to the town of Yanqing. The bus leaves every 15 minutes from 6 am to 6 pm.

Drive along Badaling Highway to the town of Yanqing.

(Beijing Weekend April 30, 2004)