Quick Data: Shenzhen's tourism revenue in 2005 totals £¤41b

SHENZHEN last year received the largest number of overseas visitors among cities on the Chinese mainland, according to statistics from the city's tourism bureau.

In 2005, Shenzhen received nearly 58 million tourists, among whom six million were overseas tourists who stayed overnight. The city's tourism revenue last year totaled about 41 billion yuan (US$5.06 billion), of which US$2 billion was in foreign exchange.

The city held more tourism events last year. Each of its districts hosted a festival, such as the Golden Coast Tourism Festival in Yantian District, Litchi Festival in Nanshan District, and the Carnival at Sea in Longgang District. In order to promote Shenzhen, the municipal tourism bureau sponsored a singing contest with the theme of Shenzhen tourism, and a tour guide competition.

The three "Golden Weeks" played a big role in attracting visitors to the city last year, with the theme parks across Shenzhen staging different events during the holidays. Nearly 11 million people visited Shenzhen during the three weeklong holidays, adding 790 million yuan to the city's coffer.

The city government last year rewarded the Shenzhen's tourist agencies, on the basis of the number of tourists that visited the city's theme parks, and stayed in local hotels, among other criteria.

Shenzhen also has a policy that allows foreigners to visit the city for 144 hours without a visa.

The bureau's statistics also show that last year there was a great increase in the number of foreign tour groups that stayed in Shenzhen for two days or more.

Editor: Wing