Taiwan, the hottest travel destination for Xi'an citizens

Xi'an (CNS) – Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province, was in the first round cities allowing its residents to travel to Taiwan in 2008. More than 30,000 Shaanxi visitors made it to Taiwan in 2010, accounting for half of the provinces outbound travel. The number is supposed to climb by over 20 percent in 2011 thanks to progressively more affordable tours.

The price for an 8-day tour to Taiwan costs about 8,000 to 9,000 yuan in Xi'an this season. Although the price is higher than in other seasons of the year, travel agencies have proven incapable of providing seats for every client that desired one.

The tours taken off in the 2012 Spring Festival holiday have been booked up, said Liu Zhifeng, from KangHui Travel Agency, adding that the latest vacancy is in February next year, when the price will decrease to about 7,000 yuan.

Four airlines have opened a total of seven direct flights from Xi'an to Taiwan each week.