Chinese group travelers will be allowed to visit Ethiopia, Kenya, Mauritius, Seychelles, Tanzania, Tunis, Zambia and Zimbabwe as of Wednesday.

Ordinary Chinese citizens will be allowed to visit the faraway and mysterious African continent 600 years after ancient Chinese navigator Zheng He sailed there.

From 1405 to 1433, the eminent navigator Zheng made seven voyages, reaching as far as Kenya, where he established friendship between the people of China and Africa. Today Chinese travelers can take the same route, said Taka Munyanyiwa, tourism official of Zimbabwe.

Tourism insiders estimated that more than 50,000 Chinese people travel to Zambia annually, and the number is expected to double next year. "Africa is the land where man and nature, man and wildlife live harmoniously," said Feng Zhijun, sales manager of Kenya Airways.

Chinese travelers can appreciate Mount Kilimanjaro, Victoria Falls and Zimbabwe's ancient relics, said Guo Ming, general manager of China Travel International Ltd.

The eight African nations cherish great expectation toward the world's fastest growing outbound tourism market, said a tourism official.

Historical navigator Zheng He also promoted trade relations between ancient China and African nations. With the elapse of six centuries, Chinese travelers will further enhance friendship and exchanges, said Liu Dunren, Mauritius tourism representative in China.

 (Xinhua News Agency December 16, 2004)