Share your favorite travel routes in Beijing

The press conference for the online contest "Beijing Travel Spin 'Foreigner's Choice: Top 10 Tour Routes around Beijing" is being held on Tuesday.

The contest is co-hosted by the Beijing Tourism Administration and the Publicity Department of Beijing Municipal Government, and supported by portal media, including CRI Online Travel, CRIENGLISH.com, the China Daily and the People's Daily online.

Inviting foreigners living or visiting Beijing to share their favorite travel routes around the ancient capital, "Travel Spin" aims to discover new tours and innovate on the traditional ones.

"The contest not only helps foreign tourists get to know Beijing, but also helps us know what we should improve," Yu Lintang, director of the information office of the Beijing Tourism Administration, said in his welcoming speech.

Also present at the press conference are ambassadors from 19 countries and reporters from various media.

In a congratulatory speech, Ahmed Latheef, ambassador of Maldives, expressed his interest in and support for the event. The ambassador said he is amazed at how historical relics are perfectly preserved in today's Beijing, which has become a dynamic and modern metropolis.

Since its launch in early March, the contest has received many entries. The works are in the form of text, photos and videos. Participants can log on to the official Web site of the event, http://english.visitbeijing.com.cn, to upload their works or cast their votes. The chosen routes will be displayed on the contest's special coverage page.

The competition will choose over 100 prize winners and award the top ones with prizes worth about 5,000 yuan. Last year, the first prize winners are invited on a free trip to Suzhou, one of China's most popular travel destinations.

The contest runs through August 2010.