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Both countries offer reciprocal 10-year visas.

Canada opened seven visa-application centers in China last year, bringing the total number to 12.

Chinese can use UnionPay－China's largest payment provider－when applying for visas online since June 22.

China's largest online travel agency, Ctrip, recently signed memorandums of understanding with Destination Canada and Canadian provincial tourism bureaus to promote Canadian destinations in China.

"The tourism year is seeing a jump in Canada's offerings to catch up with Chinese demand," says Yu Wenjun, who's in charge of Ctrip's North American business.

The company now offers tours with themes like autumn maple and aurora viewing.

Tourism Toronto's overseas media relations manager, Michelle Simpson, says: "The tourism year will help Chinese tourists be aware of Canada as a destination."

Toronto－the country's largest city－is about an hour and a half by car from Niagara Falls. It offers such diverse offerings as heritage, art galleries and icewine tours.

Destinations include the historical Casa Loma mansion and the old Distillery District, which is packed with restaurants and shops.

Graffiti Alley is popular on Instagram as the area is adorned with murals by various artists, including local graffitist Uber5000's classic yellow bird.

A large proportion of Chinese visitors come on group tours, but individual travelers have been increasing in recent years, Simpson says.