Tourist sites in Beijing see 3-times more visitors than last year

A man prays for good fortune as he holds burning incense on the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year at Yonghe Lama Temple, in Beijing, January 31, 2014. [Photo by Wu Chuanjing/chinadaily.com.cn]

The first day of the lunar New Year marks the start of the Spring Festival Golden Week, and people have been flooding to see the attractions around the capital, Beijing.

21 tourist sites saw a total of around 280-thousand visitors on Friday, three times more than last year. Among the most popular landmarks was the Lama Temple, which saw 76-thousand guests pass through its sacred gates.

Many lit incense sticks and made wishes for good luck in the New Year. Shijingshan Amusement Park, Temple of Heaven, the Hongluo Temple and the Forbidden City also saw large crowds on Friday, with each site receiving over 20-thousand visitors.