The World Carnival wrapped up its 2005 Beijing tour on Sunday, receiving 1.56 million visitors in 73 days and gaining 170 million yuan (US$21 million) in profits.

The pageant has seen its profits up by 17.3 percent compared with last year, when it first landed in Beijing.

Its peak of visits occurred on Oct. 2, with 50,000 customers coming on the scene, according to Monday's Beijing Morning Post.

The carnival attracted both elders and toddlers, who came not just to experience, but to enjoy the crazy atmosphere.

The carnival, organized through a joint venture between U.K. Funfairs Ltd. and Hong Kong-based World Carnival Ltd., went to Shanghai in 2003 and to Beijing in the following year. The carnival ran for 52 days last year and generated 140 million yuan.

"We will set our foot in Beijing permanently," Zhang Shuhua, president of the China office of the carnival, was quoted as saying.

He said Beijing was chosen as the venue because it will stage the Olympic Games in 2008, which indicates a great business opportunity.  

(Xinhua News Agency October 12, 2005)