Hefei to launch tours to Shanghai Expo

2010-10-15

Travel agencies in Hefei, capital city of Anhui province, are rushing to launch tours of the 2010 Expo in Shanghai as it draws to a close on October 31.

The 1200-yuan ($179) itineraries attract a large number of citizens, who want to seize the last opportunity to visit the grand exposition. So far, about 50 percent of the expo-bound tour groups are full.

"The expo is getting toward the end, and ticket prices have dropped after the National Day holidays, which result in many bookings for expo tours now," a manager of a local travel agency said.

In addition, tourists are fascinated by on-sale commodities in foreign pavilions at the expo garden.

"Stores started offering discounts in most foreign pavilions," a tour guide surnamed Li said. "For example, jade is sold at a 20-30 percent discount in the pavilion of Burma, and if you buy a toilet case from the Cambodian Pavilion, you will get one free."

"Next two weeks will see a shopping spree at the expo," some insiders said. "And it makes the expo itineraries popular among citizens."

Statistics show more than 270,000 tourists from Anhui province have visited this year’s Expo in Shanghai.

Editor: Li Jing

Source: cnanhui.org