May Day is supposed to be a time when people get away from the city and go somewhere quiet and beautiful, like an ancient town.

But for some, things didn't go as planned this year. For example, Fenghuang County never expected anything like 49-thousand tourists to flood in for one day. The once peaceful county in Hunan Province now gets a bit crowded on holidays.

Mr Wang brought his family to Fenghuang County all the way from Beijing during his precious three-day holiday. They are fascinated by the traditional flavor of the ancient buildings, but that's not the only thing that left an impression on the family.

Mr Wang said, "It's way too crowded here. I think lots of people drove here and that's why there are too many private cars on the street. But it's inconvenient because they're stuck most of the time. And the cars are destroying the local flavor."

Many of the visitors come to Fenghuang for a refreshing moment of tranquility, but unfortunately they didn't get what they wished for. According to the statistics from the local tourism bureau, the number of tourists to Fenghuang dramatically rose since 2007. Last year, a total amount of 5.3 million tourists paid a visit to the 1.8-thousand square kilometer county; the peak number during public holidays is 45-thousand people per day, a figure nearly doubles the county's total number of beds.

Ren Zhenjun, director of Fenghuang Tourism Bureau, said, "The increasing number of tourists surpassed the capacity of the town as a touring destination. It's also beyond our expectation."

The booming tourism industry in Fenghuang has put the town under heavy pressure, not only regarding beds and hotels, but also the quality of tourism management and public services. There has been some trouble, too, such as unregistered tour guides who escape government oversight, and some of them border on fraud.

However, as the local government has recognized the problem, they have enforced new rules on tour guides and agencies. So, it may still be crowded, but it's very possible that the tourists will enjoy the ancient town in a refreshing and controlled environment.

vivi筆記：

ancient town：古鎮(zhèn)
Fenghuang County：鳳凰古城
flood in：涌進(jìn)
traditional flavor：傳統(tǒng)特色
ancient building：古建筑
private car：私家車
tourism bureau：旅游局
touring destination：旅游目的地
tourism management：旅游管理
tour guide：導(dǎo)游
border on：接近，近似

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