Spanish tennis fans will have the chance to travel to China for the China Open in October thanks to an overseas promotion launched by tournament organizers last week.

A campaign - the Starry China Open, Charming Beijing picture exhibition - was launched last Monday inviting Spanish sports fans ahead of the Madrid Open to send their photographs from the Beijing Olympics or previous China Opens.

The two entrants with the best snaps will be invited to visit Beijing and watch the China Open.

An additional 10 people will receive a ticket to the Madrid Open and another 20 will each be sent a souvenir from the China Open. Winners will be announced at a promotion banquet on May 16 during the Madrid Open.

After five highly successful years, the China Open has grown to become a combination of a WTA Crown Pearl and ATP 500 tournament, making it Asia's premier competition and only second to the four grand slams, on the same level as the Madrid, Miami and Indian Wells opens. The total prize money for the tournament has accordingly risen to $6,600,000 from $1,100,000.

The event will be held at the Beijing Olympic National Tennis Center, the venue for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, from Oct 2-11.

(China Daily May 6, 2009)