General Information » Economy » Tourism

As China’s cultural heart and capital, Beijing is a must-see for visitors to the country. The most celebrated sights are the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, the Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace; all of which have UNESCO World Heritage status. The number of foreign tourists entering Beijing has soared recently, helped by hype about the 2008 Olympics. There were 3.63 million in 2005, generating foreign exchange income of $3.62 billion.

By the end of 2005, the city had 594 star-graded hotels, with an average daily room rate of ¥425 (about $55). The Olympics were forecast to bring 500,000 people into Beijing for the three weeks from August 8. Hotel prices have reportedly quadrupled during this period, with many major hotels only taking bookings covering the whole three-weeks.

Some overseas tour operators believe expectations are too high, and that hotels will be forced to slash prices close to the event, just as happened in Sydney 2000. Ticket holders for Olympic events will be able to use public transport for free.