In conjunction with Beijing's new 72-hour visa-free policy for transit travelers, the Municipal Commission of Tourism Development is hosting events to enhance the image of the Chinese capital as an international tourist destination with lots to do and see.

Beijing Tourism in Toronto on Tuesday and New York on Thursday featured "kung fu panda" dances along with a variety of martial arts and choreography related to landmarks in Beijing.

The commission's Zhou Weinan said promoting tourism should be as much fun as a trip itself.

"We're looking forward to organizing more events of this type in the future," he said. "Introducing the tourism resources and urban image of the city to international tourists and North American visitors can improve Beijing's international standing."

Last year, Beijing welcomed 700,000 travelers from the United States, the biggest single source of inbound visitors, according to MCTD data.

To reach would-be tourists, the commission has sponsored events in several locations across the US, including the New Year's countdown in Manhattan's Times Square, the Three Tenors of China performing at Lincoln Center and a major event at Universal Studios in Los Angeles.

Members of the ursine cast of Panda's Fantastic Tour of Beijing greet their New York audience. Photos by Li Na in Toronto and Hu Haidan in New York / China Daily

Two photos above: The panda spectacular hit the stage of Toronto's Royal Alexandra Theatre on Tuesday. Performers in the show, which follows a group of pandas training to become martial-arts masters, include adherents of Jet Li and members of the production staff of the 2008 Olympics.

Zhou Weinan, of the Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development, speaks at a tourism promotion in New York ahead of Thursday's cultural performances.

Wu Dongmei, Chinese deputy consul general in Toronto, addresses the audience before Tuesday's showcase. She said Canadians spend about C$500 million a year in travel to China.

Members of the Beijing tourism commission gather with the cast of Panda's Fantastic Tour of Beijing. The Toronto version of the show was co-sponsored by the Chinese consulate in Toronto, the China National Tourist Office and China Travel Service (Canada) Inc.

(China Daily USA 06/28/2013 page12)