Sichuan province received approximately 73 million Chinese and overseas tourists last year, including 72.2 million from the Chinese mainland and 670,000 from overseas, according to statistics provided by the provincial tourism bureau.

The province's tourism sector earned 38 billion yuan (4.58 billion US dollars) in revenue in 2002, and the respective growth rates for total revenue and foreign exchange earnings from tourismwere six percent and 10 percent above the national average.

Reputed for its beautiful landscapes and scenery, Sichuan is home to Jiuzhaigou, Huanglong and Ermei mountains, a site included in the world cultural heritage list of the United Nations Scientific, Educational and Cultural Organization.

(Xinhua News Agency February 26, 2003)