The May Day holiday, running from May 1 to 5, has sparked a tourism boom in China, with scenic areas across the country drawing visitors with picturesque views and colorful activities.
In the Puzhehei scenic area in southwest China's Yunnan Province, outdoor camping, bonfire parties and hot air balloon shows are among the attractions that have encouraged holidaymakers to connect with its famous karst landscapes and sweeping natural scenery.
The scenic area has also held festival celebrations based on local ethnic culture and invited visitors to participate.
As of Saturday, Puzhehei had welcomed more than 50,000 tourists.
A national horse race invitational was held from Thursday to Saturday in Sandu Shui Autonomous County of southwest China's Guizhou Province, with the seating packed with tens of thousands of spectators.
The event also featured equestrian stunt performances between games.
The popularity of the horse race has prompted Sandu to improve its visitor accommodations in order to welcome more than 210,000 tourists in the three days.
Yangshuo County in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region received more than 93,000 tourists in the first three days of the five-day holiday.
The Lijiang scenic area recorded nearly 20,000 rafting tours in the period, presenting a spectacular scene of thousands of boats sailing in the Lijiang River.
In Shangrao City of east China's Jiangxi Province, the Wangxian Valley has attracted crowds of visitors to see its unique landscapes, cliffside hanging houses, and historically-rooted cultural rites, such as Han Dynasty (206 BC–220 AD) wedding ceremonies.
Sayram Lake, the largest and highest alpine lake in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is known worldwide for its picturesque natural scenery and diverse ethnic culture.
In the first three days of the holiday, the lake attracted more than 50,000 visitors, up 100 percent year on year.
China's scenic areas draw crowds during May Day holiday
