Foreign backpackers select 13 best travel routes in Beijing

Where do foreigners traveling in Beijing like to visit the most? The 13 most popular travel routes selected by foreign backpackers online were released on Sept. 1. The route to Beijing Zoo Wholesale Market, which enjoys a great reputation among Beijing residents, was selected by foreign tourists as the most innovative route.

Officials from the Beijing Tourism Administration said the "Traveling happily in Beijing – Best Travel Routes in the Eyes of Foreigners" activity was launched on March 23, 2010, and is mainly consisted of a questionnaire survey covering nearly 300 foreign backpackers selected in various gathering places of foreign tourists in Beijing.

Foreign backpackers designed their own routes for traveling in Beijing and posted the routes online so other foreigners can vote. By Aug. 31, organizers received a total of 237 written works and more than 3,000 photographic works from foreign backpackers from more than 30 countries and regions. Meanwhile, they also received more than 1,000 suggestions on improving Beijing's tourism from foreign tourists.

At last, the 13 best travel routes were selected. The first prize was awarded to the route to the China Central TV Tower, Yuyuantan Park, and Taipingyang Underwater Exhibition, and the second prizes were awarded to the route to the Yonghe Temple and Imperial Academy, as well as the route to the Forbidden City and Summer Palace.

In addition to well-known scenic spots such as the Forbidden City, Summer Palace and the Yonghe Temple, some unexpected spots also appeared on the award-winning list. For example, the route to the Beijing Zoo Wholesale Market was selected as the most innovative route, the route to the 798 Art Zone was selected as the most eco-friendly route, the route to the Cuandixia Village was selected as the most romantic route, the route to Xiangshan Park won the most economical route, the route to the Fangjia Hutong was selected as the route that can best display Beijing's folk culture, the route to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall was the most idyllic route, the route to the Beijing Wildlife Park was the most child-friendly route, the route to the Simatai section of the Great Wall was the most adventurer-friendly route, the route to the Beijing Olympic Park was the most suitable for family tours, and the route to the Shishahai Lake was the most suitable for nightlife.

"Foreign visitors to Beijing want to experience the life of Beijing residents and are willing to visit places that Beijing residents frequent. Wholesale markets as large as the Beijing Zoo Wholesale Market are very rare in foreign countries, so this is a fresh experience for foreign tourists and many of them even enjoy the fun of bargaining," said officials from the Beijing Tourism Administration when answering why routes to some unexpected scenic spots such as the Beijing Zoo Wholesale Market were selected.

Beijing Daily contributes to this report.

By People's Daily Online