According to China's National Tourism Administration, 20 "red tourism" sites, landmark sites in the modern history of the nation, brought in 20.3 billion yuan (approximately US$2.4 billion) in tourist income in 2004, up 33.26 percent year-on-year.

The administration has named this year the "Year of Red Tourism" and has issued a list of "30 choice red tourism routes" and "100 classic red tourism sites" jointly with 12 other departments.

"We believe this kind of tourism will bring many benefits. First, it will guide the public to remember great historical figures and their contributions. Second, it will help the economically backward former revolutionary bases catch up in economic development," said an official with the administration.

Administration statistics show Xibaipo in north China's Hebei Province, temporary headquarters of the Communist Party of China Central Committee from 1947 to 1948, received 460,000 visitors in 2004, up 27.78 percent year-on-year.

Jiaxing in east China's Zhejiang Province, one of the venues where the first National Congress of the CPC was held, received 11.51 million visitors, up 24.57 percent. The famous revolutionary base Jinggang Mountains in east China's Jiangxi Province received 1.63 million visitors, up 34.71 percent.

(Xinhua News Agency March 25, 2005)