As Chinese celebrate the 75th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China, tourism surges across the country thanks to a variety of cultural, historical, and recreational activities, allowing visitors to enjoy unique experience at every corner.
A mix of local getaways, long-distance trips, and hometown visits during the seven-day holiday which started on Tuesday has driven up the ticket sales for scenic spots. On Tuesday, scenic area ticket sales have seen a year-on-year growth of 37 percent while homestay reservations increased by 55 percent.
In Xinjiang's Tianshan Mountains, a Taiwanese tourist Hsieh Yiting was captivated by the natural landscape and cuisine.
"We drove here to this homestay village recently. The food here is something I've never tried before in my hometown. I love the scenery and the food here," said Hsieh.
In Xiamen City's Gulangyu Island, music offered the visitors both an elegant vibe and a patriot atmosphere, as many pianists played the beautiful melody of "My Motherland and Me" on 32 pianos across the island.
"The atmosphere here is so lively, and the strong sense of music is what stands out the most," said a tourist from Zhejiang Province.
Data from tourism agencies shows more people are opting for long-distance trips during this National Day holiday. The proportion of long-distance trips rose by 6 percent compared to the same period last year. Some of the most popular destinations include Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai and Chongqing.
Meanwhile, sports enthusiasts have found ways to stay active, like in Jiangsu's Yangma Town, where a lively running event brought together runners to celebrate the holiday.
Red tourism, a form to tourism where visitors make visits to sites of historical significance to the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese Revolution, has also drawn significant interest, with daily bookings up 40 percent compared to last year. Many people are taking the opportunity to visit revolutionary sites and patriotic landmarks.
"The most exciting moment was passing by the Tian'anmen Square. I saw the giant flower bed, and then Tian'anmen itself. I was truly excited," said a tourist named Guo Zixuan.
"Based on the public's travel wills, booking indices, and local preparations [for the tourism boom], we anticipate that [the number of travelers] during this year's National Day holiday will once again hit a record high," said Dai Bin, head of the China Tourism Academy.
China expects record-breaking National Day holiday travel
