China's outbound tourism has been booming with nearly 29 million people traveling overseas in 2004, an increase of 42 percent over the year before.

Statistics from the Ministry of Public Security shows that the favorite destinations for mainland tourists are Hong Kong, Macao and Japan.

Officials attribute the dramatic increase to loosening of restrictions on traveling to Hong Kong and Macao and simplified process to apply visas for overseas travel.

(CRI.com January 14, 2005)