About 200 mainlanders flew out of Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong airports yesterday afternoon, becoming the first group of Chinese vacationers to leave for the US.

"This is a long-awaited trip to the US. But better late than never," said Li Lianjie, 76, at Beijing Capital International Airport.

Li and his wife were among a 24-member group from Beijing that left for a 10-day tour of the US. A larger group, of more than 40 people, will leave Beijing for the US today.

On Dec 11, 2007, Chinese and US tourism authorities signed a memorandum¹ of understanding (MOU), which allows Chinese to travel to the US in tourist groups. The US Department of Commerce has estimated that the number of Chinese tourists could reach 579,000 by 2011.

T ourists from Beijing are expected to join a 79-member group from Shanghai and a group of 90 from Guangdong province (who flew from Hong Kong) in Washington.

"According to the schedule, they will be greeted by tourism officials and representatives of the US tourism industry at each stop on their trip to that country," said Liu Lili, an official with the Beijing tourism administration.

Sun Ming, a guide with the group, said the tourists will be invited to the venue² of the ongoing³ China-US Strategic Economic Dialogue in Annapolis, Maryland.

Sun Weiming, an outbound travel manager with the China Youth Travel Service, said the travel agency has received many requests from people eager to tour the US, even though the 10-day tour costs 20,000 yuan ($2,857).
 

Questions:

1. About how many mainland Chinese flew out of airports yesterday for the US?

2. The US Department of Commerce estimates how many Chinese people will visit the US for tours by 2011?

 3. How much does a 10-day tour cost?

Answers:

1. 200.

2. 579,000.

 3. 20,000 yuan or $2,857.