Lhasa receives record number of tourists

   LHASA, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- China's plateau city of Lhasa, dubbed "the city of sunlight," received a record 16 million tourists in the first 11 months, up 17 percent year on year, according to local tourism authorities Friday.

   Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, reaped 22.5 billion yuan (3.4 billion U.S. dollars) in tourism revenues during the same period, up 21 percent on  the previous year, according to the municipal tourism development commission.

   Lhasa is endowed with more than 3,000 hours of daylight annually and is home to hundreds of cultural heritage sites, including the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Norbu Lingka.

   Winter is the low season for the region. Tourists can enjoy discounted tickets to scenic spots and hotel rooms.

   The regional government plans to attract more than 30 million visitors by 2020, when annual tourism revenue is expected to exceed 55 billion yuan. Enditem