Australia has long been a popular tourist destination for international travelers and the number of Chinese visitors is on the rise as well. The reason is simple. There are lots to see, especially in its two biggest cities.

There's a lot to like about Australia - which explains why people from all over the world keep wanting to visit. Maybe it is the natural beauty or perhaps the rich blend of cultures.

Others would say it is the sun-soaked, laid-back, outdoor lifestyle and apparent carefree pace of life of the land Down Under.

Of course, there is the cleanliness and efficiency, Australia's energizing hustle and bustle, and old world charm mixed with casual Aussie warmth.

Last year about six million international tourists visited Australia. The majority were from New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States and Japan, and the number of Chinese visitors is on the rise.

While the Chinese were keen to take in major attractions like the Great Barrier reef, the Gold Coast, the Outback and Kakadu National Park, most agree Sydney and Melbourne are two must-see cities.

Sydney

The undeniable jewel of Sydney - Australia's biggest city with a population of about four million - is its spectacular harbor, which divides the city into two parts, north and south.

Sydney's harborside stretches for more than 240 kilometers and is scattered with forests, parks, charming beaches and exquisite islands.

The best way to get a true sense of Sydney is to take a cruise on one of the many ferries that ply the harbor, departing regularly from Circular Quay. It's a great way to discover the nooks and crannies of the city as you sail past the Sydney Harbor Bridge, Sydney Opera House, Darling Harbor and west to the upper reaches of Middle Harbor.

Australia was first settled in 1788 when the "First Fleet" arrived from England carrying about 750 convicts from that nation's overcrowded prisoner system.

While they landed at Botany Bay, just south of Sydney, the adventurers very quickly discovered Sydney harbor and thus began the modern history of Australia.

The area around Circular Quay - to become known as "The Rocks" - quickly became a hub of trade and in the years ahead, a conglomeration of sandstone storehouses.

These days it has evolved into Sydney's international gateway, a trendy precinct where visitors can find galleries, boutiques, fine restaurants, coffee shops, weekend markets and many more attractions within the labyrinth of alleys and lanes.

Just around the corner from Circular Quay is Darling Harbor, a popular spot with locals at weekends and home to hot tourist spots like the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney Aquarium, Star City Casino, Chinese Garden of Friendship, Australian Maritime Museum and Cockle Bay Wharf.

The city center, which stretches from the harbor and Royal Botanic Gardens south to Chinatown and Central Station, has plenty of great shopping to offer. There is even an architecture walk through some of the older parts of town.

When the sun goes down, there is also plenty to see and do - cafes, restaurants, bars. And then there is Kings Cross. Tucked away not far from the city heart, Kings Cross comes alive at night, a cacophony of noise and bright lights, bars, bands and booze - and decidedly very seedy.

But without doubt Sydney's biggest attraction is its beaches. There are more than 30 ocean beaches in and around Sydney and combined with an average temperature of about 25 degrees Celsius, it can feel like summer all year long.

The best way to soak up the beach lifestyle is to take a walk along the gorgeous coastline between Bronte and Bondi while the promenade along the beachfront is a big favorite with joggers and skateboarders. The large picnic area under the palms and pine trees at Bronte are popular with families while Wylies Baths - or Bondi Icebergs - at the southern tip of Bondi Beach is a famed swimming paradise. The beach massage and the morning yoga are the big features there.

Travel Tips:

Tourism New South Wales, airline Qantas and China's UnionPay, together with travel agencies, recently launched a series of quality tourism products.

From now until mid-June, a tourist from Shanghai can get a Qantas round-trip ticket, two nights' hotel accommodation and a half-day city tour for 7,999 yuan (US$1,140). Visitors who use China UnionPay cards to make purchases in Sydney have the chance to win a Shanghai-Sydney round-trip airline ticket and two nights in a four-star hotel.

Melbourne

While a steady influx of foreign tourists are headed to China ahead of the Beijing Olympic Games, why not take an Olympic tour in Melbourne, a city that previously held the sports gala?

When Melbourne hosted the 1956 Olympics, it was the first Australian city and first city in the southern hemisphere to do so. Sydney, of course, hosted the 2000 Olympics.

Melbourne is a great place, boasting many wonderful events and attractions. For example, there is the world-famous Melbourne Cup horse race, the Australian Formula One Grand Prix, Australian Open tennis championship, the Australian Gallery of Sport and Olympic Museum, the Shrine of Remembrance, Royal Botanical Gardens, Melbourne Zoo, Victorian Arts Center, Museum Victoria, Scienceworks Museum and Melbourne Planetarium, Rod Laver Arena, Docklands Stadium and the Queen Victoria Market.

Since the golden moments of the 1956 Games, the legacy lives on in a number of landmark buildings that are still worth a visit. Should you pay a visit to Melbourne, be sure to take a look at these:

Melbourne Cricket Ground

Located a short tram ride from the heart of town, the famous MCG was the main stadium for the 1956 Olympics. Recognized as the home of Australian sport - particularly Australian football and cricket - the MCG has been the scene of many great sporting events, as well as many firsts in Australian sporting history.

Its history dates back to 1853, when Lieutenant-Governor La Trobe made a grant of the "Police Paddock" to the Melbourne Cricket Club. It has been included on the National Heritage list to protect its value for generations to come.

Royal Exhibition Building National Historic Place

As one of the first three places to be listed on the National Heritage list in 2004, the building's great hall and a new stadium annex were used as a venue for weightlifting and basketball during the Melbourne Olympic Games.

The Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron

With a history dating back more than 120 years, it is one of the oldest yacht clubs in Victoria with a long list of historical firsts. In 1956, the club was the executive headquarters for the yachting section of the Melbourne Olympics, where the victory ceremony and presentation of medals took place.

Lexus Center

The venue was originally constructed for the 1956 Games where it became the first Olympic pool to have a roof. It has since become the Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Center, playing host to a variety of sports organizations and events.

Travel Tips:

Melbourne is closer than ever before for Shanghai locals and expats after Tourism Victoria and Qantas launched twice weekly direct flights between Melbourne and Shanghai last month. A Qantas round-trip ticket from Shanghai to Melbourne, including two-night accommodation and a half-day city tour, costs 7,999 yuan.

(Shanghai Daily April 7, 2008)