Volunteers who helped Sichuan deal with the devastation of the May 12 earthquake have been rewarded with "thank you" cards that offer discounts on some of the province's most popular tourists sights.

The tokens of gratitude were given to 1 million people by the Dujiangyan municipal government, the first authority to show its appreciation to those involved in the relief work.

It has been distributing the cards since June last year, with holders able to gain unlimited access to the scenic sights of Mount Qingcheng, the birthplace of Chinese Taoism, and the historic Dujiangyan Irrigation Project.

Engineer Liang Peng and his wife, from Hubei Province, were among the 1,200 who descended on the area armed with the cards during the traditional Tomb Sweeping Day holidays, saying they could not pass up on a chance to see Mount Qingcheng and the 2,265-year-old irrigation project for free.

Chengdu, the provincial capital, had also issued 15 million tourism cards by the end of last month, local tourism officials said.

Within the next 12 months, cardholders will be able to visit 11 tourist attractions in the city for free - a total saving of 708 yuan (US$100), Mu Tao, deputy chief of Chengdu tourism administration, said.

He said more than 200,000 people received the cards and that nearly 10,000 cardholders dropped in during the Tomb Sweeping vacation.

The money spent on flight and train tickets, as well as food and hotels, also boosted development of the local economy, added Deng Gongli, deputy secretary-general of the Chengdu municipal government.

(China Daily April 7, 2009)