A tourist had a picture taken at an old house where Chairman Mao formerly lived. (Photo : Reuters)
Chinese authorities have recorded the largest number of tourists traveling to northwest China’s Shaanxi Province after President Xi Jinping visited the region on Feb. 13.
The Global Times reported that the hordes of tourists were drawn mainly to the place because of the attraction of historical sites related to the Communist Party's revolutionary past.
The report said that on Feb. 21, about 7,600 tourists came to the Revolutionary Memorial Hall in Yan'an, which indicated an increase of about 63 percent from last year's record.
President Xi and his wife visited Liangjiahe, a city in Tongchuan, and Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi.
Local tourism authority said that about 100,000 tourists visited Liangjiahe village in Yan'an every year.
Xi was sent to Liangjiahe village in 1969 and lived there before he joined the Party in 1974, while Yan'an is known as the Party's major base from 1935 until 1948.
The influx of tourists due to the so-called "red tourism" has prompted many travel agencies to include the places visited by President Xi to the itinerary of tourists willing to see places related to the Chinese revolution.
The report said that the places visited by Xi in Shaanxi and Yan'an have now become tourist hot spots.
The People's Daily reported that President Xi went to Shaanxi's historical sites to honor the Party's history and look back at where they started.
The leader said that his visit demonstrates that the Party can draw power for needed reforms from its roots.
Local authorities have said that tourists visit these places mainly for reasons associated with their special political history and meanings.
