According to the National Tourism Administration (NTA), 20 "red tourism" sites -- famous places in the country's modern revolutionary history -- raked in 20.3 billion yuan (US$2.4 billion) in 2004, up 33.3 percent year-on-year.

The NTA has named 2005 the Year of Red Tourism, issuing lists of "30 choice red tourism routes" and "100 classic red tourism sites." Twelve other governmental agencies are also involved in the campaign.

"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.

Xibaipo, in north China's Hebei Province, was the temporary headquarters of the Communist Party's (CPC's) Central Committee from 1947 to 1948. Last year, it received 460,000 visitors, a rise of 27.8 percent year-on-year.

Jiaxing, in east China's Zhejiang Province, was one of the venues where the CPC first National Congress was held. In 2004, some 11.5 million people visited, surging 24.6 percent. Visitors to the famous Jinggang Mountains revolutionary base in east China's Jiangxi Province jumped 34.7 percent, to 1.6 million.

(Xinhua News Agency March 25, 2005)