Hazzan II Mosque in Casablanca, which is said to be able to accommodate 100,000 people. Photos by Ye Jun / China Daily

From the labyrinthine lanes of Fez, and the horse carts of the Medina of Marrakech, to the spectacular mosque in Casablanca, Morocco is a tourist paradise. Ye Jun reports.

Morocco has long been my dream destination. This mysterious country has fueled my imagination because of the magical stories from One Thousand and One Nights and the romance of the classic film Casablanca (1942), a favorite of many Chinese.

I got the chance to visit the country as part of a media group, invited by the International Olive Council (IOC). Morocco is the world's second-largest producer of table olives and IOC is an intergovernmental organization that seeks to promote the use of olive oil.

The tightly scheduled tour took us to olive farms and olive-oil producing facilities at Marrakech, Casablanca, Meknes, Fez and Rabat.

But my first impressions were anything but pleasant.

Tourists can sample the ancient life of Fez at its numerous shops.

At Marrakech's airport, I faced a demand of 220 dirhams ($27.38) for a taxi ride of less than 5 km, although I eventually brought it down to 80 dirhams. Then, at Djemaa el Fna Square, whenever I tried to take a photo, someone would come up to me and demand 50 dirhams.

It was only when I revisited Djemaa el Fna Square the following evening, that my spirits were restored.

During the day there were just too many vendors, but in the evening, I felt like a local.

An old street-performer aroused much laughter with his robust storytelling and I found myself joining in the mirth, even though I couldn't understand a word.

The night food markets overflowed with tempting delicacies - snails and lamb head, roasted and boiled - as well as fresh fruit juices and exotic dry fruits.

Even at 10 pm, we were in the middle of a throng of people at the back of the square, alive with a host of activities. The whole place was so full of life and energy that I was captivated.

Marrakech, surrounded by ancient red walls and its colorful souks (markets) selling an array of goods, is indeed a tourist paradise. The city attracts many visitors from Spain, Italy, France, and other Mediterranean and European countries, who can be seen riding horse carts around Medina, the old city.