Beijing is entering the best travel season, dubbed here as "golden autumn." The city is exerting its brightest look in tourists' camera.

In downtown Beijing, a Dutch tourist was busy taking pictures of Tian'anmen, the Great Hall of the People, and common Chinese people on the Tian'anmen Square.

"Beijing's beauty is beyond my imagination! Only my camera can record all these image. I will show them to my friends in the Netherlands and let them know the special beauty of this remote and mysterious country," said the tall and blond man, who only gave his first name as Hans.

The autumn sky is transparent under bright sunshine in Beijing, and colors of the city's landscape is much more diversified than any other seasons. This made autumn the midseason for foreigners to visit Beijing.

Statistics from the Beijing Tourism Bureau showed some 367,00 foreign tourists visited Beijing in September, breaking the highest monthly record in history.

On the Tian'anmen Square, two young Chinese with fluent American English told Xinhua reporter that they were Chinese Americans Dan and Kerry. Dan studied in Beijing's prestigious Tsinghua University ten years ago, and this was his second visit to Beijing.

"The city has changed dramatically over the past 10 years", said Dan. "I love Beijing, where you can not only travel through lanes enjoying old Beijing's cultural flavors and listen to Peking Operas, but also chat with friends in western-style bars. The combination of eastern and western cultures makes the city charming."

The city preparing for the 2008 Olympic Games is attracting increasing international attention. The Olympic theme has given Beijing's tourist industry a strong impetus.

In front of the Olympic Countdown Clock erected to the west of the Tian'anmen Square, a tall foreigner bent down on his knee shooting the giant digital clock.

"People in Beijing all seem to be very busy, and it is different from people in my country. Swedish like enjoying leisurely life. Beijing is the host city of the 2008 Olympic Games, I hope to be here again at that time," said the Swedish.

The Beijing Tourism Bureau expected some 550,000 foreign tourists would flush in Beijing during the Olympic Games in 2008.

The World Tourism Organization forecast that China would become the world's most popular tourism destination by 2020, when revenues from tourism is expected to account for 8 percent of China's GDP.

At the gate of the Forbidden City facing the square across the Chang'an Avenue, a handsome young guy, who looks like "Superman" in America's movie was shooting the ancient Chinese imperial architecture into his DV.

"The Forbidden City is magnificent, far beyond my imagination," said the Briton, who gave his first name Mark.

"This was my first time to be in China. Before this trip, my impressions of China were all from newspapers, pictures and television. This time I've learnt the depth of Chinese culture and the country's fast development," he said

Mark said that his travel plan also included the Great Wall and the Summer Palace in Beijing. "People here are open-minded and good-tempered. They all seem active in communication with foreigners, and this makes my trip here very pleasant." said the happy traveler, who indulged in all types of Chinese cuisine in the Chinese capital.

                                        The Great Wall

                                        Summer Palace 

(Xinhua News Agency October 20, 2005)