First Chinese tourist groups head to the US

The first 200 Chinese vacationers to enter the US on tourist visas boarded planes at airports in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong yesterday, CRI reports.

Up till now, US visas have only been granted to Chinese businessmen and students. But an agreement concluded between the two countries in December has now opened the possibility for Chinese tourist groups to travel to the States.

76-year-old Li Lianjie was one of the happy people waiting to board a plane bound for the US yesterday at Beijing International. For her, the new travel policy enables the realization of a long-time dream to see America.

A Chinese tourist pays about 3,000 euros for a ten-day trip to the US, CRI says. According to the US Department of Commerce, about 580,000 Chinese tourists are expected to visit the country by 2011.