A study released last month says after France and the US, China is attracting the most visitors each year.
While tourists still have mixed feelings about the country, all agree that it's like no where else on earth.
"It's been very interesting and one of the things that has impressed me has been that the people here are very friendly," Canadian tourist from Vancouver Rex said.
"I was having trouble because I speak almost no Chinese, to figure out how to buy a subway ticket and a guy just came up and he bought me a ticket and gave it to me."
Austrian tourist Manfred agrees China is a unique tourism destination.
"They don't laugh, they don't look frank at you, you never see a smile in their face, and they rush only. It's different. You have to see it, you have to see it on your own."
In a move to further the tourist momentum created by the 2008 Olympics, the Chinese government will begin showing a promotional video in consulates and embassies around the world.
Although they want to loose their power hungry image, China can't help striving for number one in tourism.
Julia Zhao is the Assistant manager of Inbound E-Travel Dept. Cyts Travel Beijing.
"The global financial crisis, devaluation of the euro, and increase in the value of the renminbi have had some impact on the market for incoming tourism," she says.
"But since we are traditionally a group travel destination, and as the UN has said China is poised to become the number one tourist destination, we feel the market for incoming tourism will remain robust.
"We are confident the market will continue to display double digit growth every year."
Working hard to appear soft, for now China will have to be satisfied with the number three spot.
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