Chinese visitors can enjoy the comforts of home and the excitement of travel abroad with specially-designed guides and activities

 Fairfax, VA - Now that the Beijing Olympics have drawn to a close and China has successfully rolled out the red carpet for the world, Fairfax County, Virginia wants to return the favor to the gracious Chinese hosts. Hop on a plane at the Beijing Capital International Airport and arrive just 14 hours later at Dulles International Airport, the gateway to the immense offerings of the Washington, DC Capital Region - the city which just so happens to be a "sister city" of Beijing.

"What an exciting time for our two countries," says Barry Biggar, Visit Fairfax's new President & CEO. "When two countries make it a priority to try and understand each other through cultural change and travel, there's an enormous ripple effect. Our understanding is deepened, our horizons broadened, curiosity increased, and we're just excited to be a gateway to that kind of positive exchange."

Since March 28, 2007, American Airlines has been offering direct flights between Dulles Airport and Beijing. The U.S. is China's fifth largest tourist destination. Statistics show that more than 710,000 Chinese visited the U.S. in 2007, up by 12 percent from the previous year.

Now that the excitement of the Olympics has died down, Visit Fairfax invites Chinese tourists to unwind and explore some of the many unique attractions tailored to our Chinese friends:

• Mount Vernon Estate & Gardens, home of first U.S. President George Washington, offers a Visitor Map in Chinese;
• The National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, located in Chantilly, VA, offers a guide printed in Chinese, which is also available in advance on their website;
• Washington, DC's Chinatown neighborhood has numerous ethnic Chinese restaurants and shops, as well as, plays host to a large Chinese New Year celebration every year, complete with a parade and fireworks;
• Chinatown is also home to the Friendship Arch - a Chinese gate erected to celebrate friendship with DC's sister city, Beijing;
• The Smithsonian Institution, a group of free museums and a zoo located in Washington, DC, offers guides printed in Chinese at each site and on their website;
• Tysons Corner Galleria, the region's premier upscale shopping venue, offers onsite foreign currency exchange;
• Asian restaurants are abundant in Fairfax County and offer a taste of home. Check out www.fxva.com for an extensive list, broken down by category;
• Finally, The Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, located in Vienna, VA, hosts an annual International Children's Festival (with Chinese performances), as well as a number of headlining stars in concerts and performances throughout the year, which appeal to all nationalities.

Visit Fairfax is the official tourism agency for Fairfax County, Virginia. Charged with destination marketing and tourism promotion, it is directed by many of the County's top tourism and hospitality leaders. For more information, please visit www.fxva.com.