Canada pulls out all the stops to woo more Chinese tourists

Air China will launch nonstop flights between Beijing and Montreal. China Eastern will debut routes connecting Kunming, Shanghai and Vancouver on June 26.

There are already nonstop flights to Vancouver and Toronto from Shanghai and Beijing.

Air travel takes about 10 hours, marketing director of Ctrip's tourism department Dai Yu says.

Most tourists seeking natural splendor visit during China's Mid-Autumn or National Day holidays.

Canada blazes with color in the fall, when maple leaves shimmer orange and red. And Niagara Falls' Canada side is more magnificent than the United States', she explains.

"Our customers like to drive around the country to enjoy the colorful maples," Dai says.

Many wintertime travelers from China go to ski and see the aurora borealis.

"Seeing the aurora from Yellowknife is a hot new trend," she adds.

Banff National Park is also among Chinese tourists' favorites, she says.

The park's Lake Louise and its backdrop of snowcapped mountains stunned Chen Hua, who moved to Edmonton from Beijing last year.

He enjoyed watching such wildlife as Pere David's deer and rabbits.

And he enjoyed seeing the golden and crimson maple leaves when he toured Toronto last autumn.

The natural environment and national culture has made Chen's time in the country wonderful, he says.

"The air is fresh. I don't have to worry about pollution. I can drink directly from the tap," he says.

"And Canadians are friendly and polite."