China's earthquake-hit regions to open again to tourists

SECTIONS of streets, schools and bridges destroyed during last year's massive earthquake in south-western China will soon be open to tourists.

Ruins from the 12 May quake centred in Sichuan province that left almost 90,000 people dead or missing have become a draw for visitors, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

"There is a huge tourism market in the ruins," said Wu Mian, deputy director of the Sichuan provincial tourism department.

"We cannot block the tourists out," he said. "We also hope the tourists watch their behaviour and not hurt the quake survivors' feelings."

He said the sites would include "schools, bridges, factories and streets" in devastated areas including Yingxiu, a town in Wenchuan county, the epicentre of the 7.9-magnitude quake.