Guilin, one of China's most famous tourism destinations, hosted 4.82 million domestic and overseas tourists in the first six months of the year, up 7.6 percent from the same period last year.

Of the total, overseas tourists make up 480,000, an increase of 9.7 percent, said local sources.

According to sources, the total volume of revenue generated by the tourism sector from January to June was 2.26 billion yuan (US$272 million), up 12.1 percent.

Guilin, with a population of 4.77 million, has a history of 2, 100 years. It is well-known for green mountains, clear water and strangely shaped stone formations.