Monday, August 18, 2008

"Characteristics of Beijing" attract Olympic visitors

"As they are characteristic of Beijing, such as the silk of Xiushui, pearls of Hongqiao, clothes of Yaxiu, time-honored brands in Qianmen—Dazhalan, antiques of Panjiayuan, they are already well-known by foreigners. Now, they are much more popular given the Beijing Olympics," said a spokesman from Beijing commercial bureau. With the opening of the Beijing Olympics, more and more visitors come to Beijing; and those commercial districts with Beijing characteristics are getting much more attention.

According to incomplete statistics released by the Beijing commercial offices, 337 groups, and more than 2,000 Olympic visitors visited Dongcheng, Xicheng, Chongwen, Xuanwu, Chaoyang and Haidian from July 21st to August 11th; and more than 1,200 visitors, 60% of total, visited commercial districts.

Xiushui has received 40,000 visitors per day since August began, with more than 500 people related with Olympic Games and more than 20 groups of leaders of countries. Sales figures were 50% higher than the same period of last year at least; silk sales increased 80% than last month; the turnover of tailor-made clothes increased 100%; and the daily turnover of Olympic authorized dealers are even 6 times than before.

In addition, Hongqiao and Yaxiu markets having receiving much more visitors since August, and the turnover is much high. Chinese traditional pearl and silk clothes are all preferred by foreign visitors. Within two days of Aug 8 and 9, more than 5,000 foreign visitors had visited the Panjiayuan's old goods market; and many of them left with their arms full.

By People's Daily Online

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