BEIJING, Aug. 3 -- The spectacle of the longest solar eclipse of this century also translated into big business for China's tourism and retail industries.

    Two days before the solar eclipse on July 22, hotels were full in Yangtze River Delta cities, considered an optimal viewing location.

A seal wears sunglasses during a solar eclipse event at Sunshine International Aquarium in Tokyo, Japan, Wednesday, July 22, 2009.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Scientists, astronomy buffs and tourists crowded into Shanghai, Nanjing and Hangzhou.

    The Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration reported that the city welcomed 241 foreign tour groups and estimated that 6,484 foreign tourists came to Shanghai for the viewing.

    About 80 percent of those tourists were from Japan, the tourism administration reported.

    Large travel agencies in Shanghai, Nanjing and Hangzhou reported that more than 30,000 overseas visitors arrived at Yangtze River Delta destinations before the solar eclipse.

    Of that 30,000, 25,000 were Japanese visitors and 5,000 had traveled from the United States, the agencies reported.

    Tourism industry watchers estimated the tourists spent about 10,000 yuan each on flights, hotels and food.

    Tongling, a little known city in Anhui province, became a household name when the international news media promoted its designation by the National Astronomical Observatories as a top viewing spot.

    Tourism industry watchers estimated that the publicity translated into a 50 million yuan windfall in tourist spending in Tongling.

    Although people were only able to watch a partial solar eclipse in Beijing, the event proved big business in China's capital, too.

    Zhu Jin, head of the Beijing Planetarium, said thousands of foreign visitors came to the planetarium and the Beijing Ancient Observatory in the days before the solar eclipse.

    Xiao Qiu, owner of a small store on fashionable Dongsi Street, said he enjoyed strong sales of eclipse-related souvenirs.

    "It was not just solar eclipse observation equipment, T-shirts and caps. Mobile phone pendants with a logo or a pattern of a solar eclipse became popular, as well," Xiao said.

    Even staff members at a tattoo shop on Dongsi Street reported that more customers were asking for tattoos featuring a solar eclipse or sun pattern.