percent to 11,800 tons; and that of pipeline transportation dropped by 1.6 percent to 11.23 tons. In 2007, the total passenger traffic volume rose by 12.3 percent to 6.8 million persons. Of this total, that of highways rose by 3.4 percent to 4.6 million persons; that of railways reached 888,500 persons; and that of air transportation grew by 19.2 percent to 1.31 million persons.

At the end of 2007, the total length of highways amounted to 48,611 km, an increase of 3,798 km. Of this total, the length of paved highways added 553 km to 2,537 km.

The total number of motor vehicles for civilian use reached 159,100 by the end of 2007, a growth of 12.6 percent.

The turnover of post and telecommunication services totaled 3.09 billion yuan, up 43.5 percent over the previous year. Of this total, post services accounted for 133 million yuan, up 18 percent, and telecommunication services, 2.96 billion yuan, up 45 percent. By the end of 2007, with 66,700 newly installed lines of office switchboards, the total capacity reached 416,300 lines. The fixed telephone subscribers increased by 23,500 to 705,700. This included 678,500 urban subscribers and 27,200 rural subscribers. With 300,000 newly installed lines of mobile phone switchboards, the total capacity reached 1.1 million lines. Mobile phone users numbered 737,200 by the end of 2007, with 132,000 new subscribers in the year. In total, the number of fixed and mobile phone users reached 1.44 million, an increase of 155,200 as compared with the end of 2006. Phone coverage is 52 sets per 100 persons.

In 2007, the region received a total of 4.03 million tourists from home and abroad, an increase of 60.4 percent over the previous year. Of this total, the number of domestic tourists grew 55.4 percent to 3.66 million; and that of overseas tourists soared by 136 percent to 365,400. Total tourism revenues reached 4.85 billion yuan in 2007, up by 75.1 percent over the previous year. Foreign exchange earnings surged by 122 percent to $135.29 million.

VIII. Public Finance, Banking and Insurance

In 2007, the fiscal revenue of the region totaled 2.31 billion yuan, representing a growth rate of 34 percent over the previous year. Its general budget revenue grew by 38.3 percent to 2.01 billion yuan, including value-added tax and business tax, which went up by 38.5 percent and 26.2 percent respectively. The fiscal revenue accounted for 6.8 percent of its GDP.

The total fiscal expenditure amounted to 27.94 billion yuan, recording a year-on-year growth rate of 38.1 percent. Of this total, the general budget expenditure grew by 37.6 percent to 27.54 billion yuan. The expenditure for education gained 12.1 percent to 3.28 billion yuan; and the medical expenditure surged by 74.5 percent to 1.7 billion yuan.

The outstanding balance of deposits denominated in renminbi and foreign currencies of all financial institutions totaled 64.34 billion yuan at the end of 2007, up by 17.9 percent of this total, urban and rural households' savings deposit increased by 13.9 percent to 16.01 billion yuan. The outstanding balance of loans denominated in renminbi and foreign currencies of all financial institutions amounted to 22.38 billion yuan, up by 9.7 percent. Accumulated cash income of financial institutions rose by 19.1 percent to 76.64 billion yuan; and accumulated cash expenditure of financial institutions rose by 18.8 percent to 79.68 billion yuan. Total cash put into circulation reached 3.05 billion yuan, 301 million yuan more than the previous year.

In 2007, the premium received by the insurance companies totaled 268 million yuan, representing a year-on-year growth rate of 37.4 percent. Of this total, the property insurance premium jumped by 44 percent to 36 million yuan; the life accident insurance premium fell by 8 percent to 16.93 million yuan; and the motor vehicle insurance premium leapt by 33.3 percent to 212 million yuan. In 2007, a total of 82.87 million yuan was paid by the insurance companies as indemnity.

IX. Education, Science and Technology

In 2007, the six universities in the region had a general tertiary education enrollment of 26,767 students with 8,046 new students and 5,859 graduates. The seven vocational secondary schools of various types had 18,958 enrolled students, including 6,654 new entrants, and 10,288 graduates. There were 117 secondary schools in the region. Of this total, senior secondary schools had 44,215 enrolled students, including 16,307 new entrants, and 12,332 graduates. Students enrolled in junior secondary schools totaled 135,995, including 50,707 new entrants, and 39,463 graduates. The 884 primary schools in the region had a total enrollment of 320,589 students, including 51,890 new entrants, and 52,238 graduates. There were 268 students enrolled in special education schools, with 78 new entrants. Kindergartens accommodated 11,110 children, an increase of 1,961 students over the previous year. The enrolment rate of school-age children reached 98.2 percent, 1.7 percentage points higher than one year earlier.

In 2007, the region shouldered 21 national science projects, put in place 78 regional-level key science projects. The region was honored one provincial-and ministerial-level scientific and technological achievement award in 2007. A total of 97 patent applications were accepted and 68 patent applications were authorized.

There were 48 meteorological stations in the region, six meteorological observatories with radar installations, seven satellite cloud map receiving stations, 17 seismic arrays and 32 hydrology monitoring stations.

X. Culture, Public Health and Sports

At the end of 2007, there were 28 art-performing groups, 203 culture centers and stations, four public libraries and two museums. There were 38 medium and short-wave radio-emission stations and relay stations, and five television stations. At the end of 2007, its radio broadcasting and television broadcasting coverage rates were 85.8 percent and 86.9 percent respectively. A total of 84.36 million copies of newspapers and 3.9 million copies of magazines were issued, and 11.92 million copies of books published.

By the end of 2007, there were 1,343 health institutions in the region, including 763 hospitals and health centers, 80 epidemic disease