Tourists heading to Shoton Festival in Tibet

　　BEIJING, July 30 -- The Shoton Festival is one of the most important occasions in Tibet, next to the Tibetan New Year Celebration. This year's festival falls on August 20 and is expected to create a tourism peak.

　　Actors perform Tibetan operas to mark the opening of the Shoton Festival at the Potala Palace Square, Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Aug. 12, 2007. (Xinhua Photo)

　　The Shoton Festival, also known as the "Yoghurt Festival", has a long history in Tibet. Before the 17th century, Shoton was exclusively a religious observance. Other activities, such as horse racing and Tibetan Opera, were added into the celebration as the festival evolved. Today, the festival not only entertains local Tibetans, but also delights adventurers from around the world.

　　This year, the tourism authority in Tibet has tried to appeal to travelers by offering fresh tour packages, and the response has been positive. From mid-July, people wanting a Shoton Festival journey began rushing to travel agencies to book trips.

　　The Qinghai-Tibet Railway Company is also preparing for an influx of tourists. From August 1, there will be more trains between Xining, capital city of Qinghai Province, and Lhasa.

　　Lhasa received over 730,000 travelers in the first six months of 2009, with nearly 30,000 from overseas. Tourism revenue grossed 700 million yuan RMB(or 100 million U.S. dollars).