The China National Tourism Administration recently released the country's Top 10 Tourism News of last year. The industry played a positive role in driving investment, consumption and export, as well as economic development in 2015. And the top 10 covers major events and reflects the ongoing reform and upgrading of the tourism industry in China.

1. 'Toilet revolution'

A public toilet at a scenic spot in Jiangsu province. [Photo/IC]

The CNTA launched a three-year program in January called Toilet Revolution, which aims to build 33,000 restrooms across the nation by 2017 and renovate 24,000 existing facilities.

As an important measure of the "515" strategy for promoting tourism development, the "toilet revolution" has become a gigantic tourism infrastructure, civility and livelihood project in the urban-rural public service sector.

"Toilets may be small things but they reflect the level of civilization in a country," says Li Jinzao, director of the CNTA.