The southern provinces along the Yangtze River are welcoming their golden tourist season as grass turns green and flowers blossom.

Many hotels and restaurants in the scenic cities of the region have been booked in advance, according to a survey by the China National Tourism Administration.

Experts think the provinces south of the Yangtze River have become the most-popular destinations during the peak travel season. Many tourist agencies began to promote their favorable routes as early as February.

Zhang Guangrui, director of the Tourism Research Center at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said tourists flock to the southernmost province of Hainan in January, and shift to southern Guangdong Province in February.

When March approaches, they prefer to go to areas south of the Yangtze River, such as Jiangsu and Zhejiang, well-known for their scenery and rich culture. Then the tourists move up to the northern parts of China.

Jiangsu Province is the center of the area. "The ancient capital city of Nanjing has attracted many people to its historic sites and exhibitions and conferences there," said Lu Sujie, director of Jiangsu Tourism Bureau.

She said Suzhou impresses tourists with its classical gardens, while Wuxi charms visitors with scenery around the renowned Taihu Lake.

The inland province of Anhui is famous for the misty Yellow Mountain and well-kept houses from the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911). The houses have contributed to soaring tourism revenues in some towns.

The local governments believe the upcoming International Tea Fair in Wuhu will attract more tourists during the May Day holidays.

Chen Yan, a Beijing University student who hiked through Zhejiang Province, said, "I read a lot about the area and now I am here to feel in person the sunshine, the breeze and the streams."

The number of tourists visiting the region grew by 51 percent in the first quarter of this year.

"This year is the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party. We expect a lot more people to visit the Communist guerrilla bases in Jiangxi," said Wu Wenfeng, director of Jiangxi Province Tourism Bureau.

(Eastday.com.cn 04/24/2001)