New Year demand for domestic travel

It's not just good business for travel abroad. Many people are taking the short break over the New Year as a chance for a holiday within China.

Shorter holidays are preferred by most salaried workers. Swimming in hot springs and ski tours have attracted many tourists. China has developed more than 1,600 hotsprings, across ten provinces and cities. Hotels offering hotsprings in Beijing, Yunnan, Guangdong and Chongqing say they are fully booked.

Zhang Lingjie, manager of Domestic Tour Dept., CITS,said, "Beijing residents can choose hotsprings in Yunnan, or skiing in Harbin, not just short trips to the suburbs. The number of travellers has surged 30 percent from last year."

According to online travel service Ctrip, hotel prices in Harbin, Shenyang and Dalian have jumped 10 percent from last year. Prices in Sanya have surged 30 percent. The National Tourism Administration is predicting that the number of tourists in some popular scenic spots could jump 10 percent over the New Year holiday.