Flower of the desert

Increasing wealth among the Chinese is prompting them to visit Dubai, known for its extravagancies.

"We see a significant increase in the number of Chinese tourists from about four years ago," says Fabrice Ducry, general manager of the Palace Hotel in Dubai's downtown area.

Ducry says that local hotels are gearing up to offer the best possible service for Chinese tourists. As a result, Chinese speakers are in demand. The Dubai government has cooperated with Chinese travel agencies and catering academies for the past four years. Chinese interns have been sent to Dubai and envoys of Dubai culture have been nurtured, he says.

Lu Lili, a Beijing worker, was deeply impressed by Dubai's urban appearance during her four-day stay in the country.

"I tasted some strange Arabic spices, but most of the restaurants have adapted recipes to cater to the taste of international guests," she says.

"I didn't see anything but deserts when we hit the road, but sparkling skyscrapers in various shapes highlighted in the sun suddenly sprang to our eyes as we drove along. It looked like a mirage to me."