Just like the first group last week, the Chinese visitors received ample media attention after they disembarked in the northern harbor of Keelung and went on a shopping and sightseeing spree in Taipei.

Nine groups are scheduled to visit Taiwan from March through May, with a total of 12,000 participants, mostly agents and employees of the U.S.-based direct marketing group.

The second group had a typical Taiwanese lunch near the National Palace Museum before heading for Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall and for the shopping district around Taipei 101. The first group was criticized last week for concentrating too much on spending large amounts of money, even though local shops were expecting the visitors to boost their business in the first place.

The government projected the visitors would spend a total of NT$620 million, though hotel operators were disappointed that the Chinese tourists were returning to the cruise ships for the night.

According to media reports yesterday, the second group was more subtle about the amount of money it was spending, while the use of credit cards prevailed over the flashing of large wads of cash.

The itinerary for the second group was changed slightly. The second day is taken up by a visit to Central Taiwan, with Nantou County in particular, and a dinner at a former airport hosted by the Taichung City Government. On the third day, they will set sail for Hualien on the east coast, a center of aboriginal culture famous for its rough mountain scenery.

The trips are seen as a symbol of growing exchanges between Taiwan and China since President Ma Ying-jeou assumed office last May 20. In order to facilitate the Amway trips, the Chinese government had to give special permission for residents of some provinces to visit Taiwan.