After Qingdao’s Badaguan was selected as number one in the “Five Most Beautiful areas in China” and Qingdao ascended into the ranks of the top ten leisure cities in China, tourist city Qingdao has once again won an honorable title. On December 16, the results of the “TOP 10 Best Overseas Destinations and TOP 10 Best Chinese Destinations of 2010” awards organized by Ctrip.com and other organizations was announced. Beijing, Hong Kong, Sanya, Qingdao and Chengdu all featured in the Top 10.

Annual selection: competition raised over7.5 million votes

The selection began on October 15, with the organizing committee choosing 500 entrants from the thousands of foreign and domestic destinations, and then asking netizens and readers to vote on them. By November 15, more than 7.5 million votes had been cast and the TOP 10 Chinese and foreign best destinations of 2010 were revealed.

"In the recent years, China has become a region with the fastest growth in tourism in the world. Chinese tourists now assume a vital position in global tourism industry and this selection of top 10 destinations is of great significance to the tourism industry of each country. It also serves as a valuable reference for the travel choices of domestic tourists,” expressed an official of the organizing committee of the selection. Since the kickoff last year, the “TOP10 Destination Selection Program” has received the extensive participation of the domestic and foreign travel enthusiasts and has become a leading indicator within Chinese tourism community in terms of scale and credibility.

A tourist’s response: how I wish I could stay in Badaguan all my life!

"How lucky the people in Qingdao are to own such beautiful scenery.” Under a warm sun on a wintry 16th of December, Mr. Yu and his friends from Beijing came to visit Badaguan. Mr. Yu was visiting Qingdao for the first time while on a business trip. He pointed at the photo he had taken at the second bathing beach, “red tiles, green trees, an aquamarine sea and an azure sky”, it well deserves its reputation, the coastline of Qingdao is beautiful and the elegance, serenity and exotic touch of Badaguan is unforgettable. "One of my friends plans to spend his honeymoon in Europe next year. After I go back to Beijing, I will ask him not to go to Europe but to come to Qingdao!” said Mr. Yu with smile.

At present it is an off-season in Qingdao, but the Olympic Sailing Center receives many visitors from other parts of the country. “I have longed to visit my hometown Qingdao for a long time. My relatives in Qingdao said I must have a look at the Olympic Sailing Center. I’ve heard it’s really good.” Ms Huang from Taiwan told the reporter. Her father, a native of Qingdao, often talked about the sea at his hometown, but due to his advanced age, he only returned to the city of his birth once in 1990. This time, she and her husband visited Qingdao on behalf of the whole family taking photos and videos in order to show the beautiful landscape of the city to the rest of the family. “The Olympic Sailing Center really is a spectacular sight, with its thousands of sails. I’m really happy that sailing has taken root in Qingdao,” added Ms Huang. She has fallen deeply in love with Qingdao.

A reporter’s observation: Watching the sea and drinking beer is the favorite past time of tourists in Qingdao

As one of the TOP10 domestic destinations, which Qingdao attractions are the favorites amongst tourists? The reporter surveyed nearly 100 tourists and "potential tourists” in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and other Chinese cities as well as Japan, the United States, South Korea and other countries. Of the 40 respondents who had never been to Qingdao, 36 expressed they “wish to do so”. In response to the question about “favorite Qingdao attractions”, Badaguan and the Olympic Sailing Center ranked in the top two positions, followed by the old colonial areas. In response to the question "What do you most enjoy doing in Qingdao”, more than 80% of the tourists chose “watching the sea and drinking beer”.

(China Daily)