Around 280 million, or 76 percent of Chinese people in urban areas, traveled in China in the first six months of this year, up 11.5 percent from the same period of 2005.

The travelers spent a total of 202 billion yuan (US$25 billion), or 721 yuan (US$90) per person traveling, up 18 percent and 6.5 percent respectively from the same period last year, according to the National Tourism Administration.

The administration made the calculation based on a sample survey.

(Xinhua News Agency September 18, 2006)