Representatives of Beijing tourism volunteers extend a welcome to tourists from all over the world in front of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest at the inauguration ceremony for China's first National Tourism Day in Beijing on May 19. The ceremony commemorates the date Xu Xiake (1587-1641), a renowned geographer, traveller and explorer of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), started his 30-year trek across the country, leading to the publication of Xu Xiake's Travel Notes (XINHUA) |