China's railway transportation authorities have been working with other departments to take various measures, including launching special trains and offering discounts, to boost consumption in the May Day holiday, which runs from May 1 to 5.
Throughout the holiday, two music trains run on daily between Beijing South Railway Station and the Binhai Railway Station in nearby Tianjin Municipality.
The train echoes a music festival held in Tianjin in the holiday, offering passengers an immersive travel experience.
"By buying one ticket, the passengers can both travel and watch performance on the train. For transfer between different means of transportation, we have arranged special shuttle bus services at the Tianjin North Railway Station and the Binhai Railway Station. Meanwhile, a variety of alternative travel options are also provided to further improve accessibility and travel efficiency," said Zhang Chongshuo, head of the event organizing team.
Discounts are also offered in Jiangxi, Shandong and Shaanxi provinces, where passengers could enjoy discounted admissions at scenic spots with their train tickets.
At well-known attractions like Dajue Mountain Scenic Area in Jiangxi, visitors can get discounts of up to 50 percent by presenting their travel records within seven days and ID documents.
In Shandong, the Zibo Railway Station has strengthened cooperation with local commerce authorities to offer exclusive discounts to rail passengers.
"By working with 53 merchants, we launched a promotion campaign to offer a 12-percent discount on barbecue meals for passengers holding electronic tickets terminating at the Zibo Railway Station, delivering tangible benefits to tourists visiting the city," said Yu Jinjie, duty station master at the station.
Coordinated efforts boost holiday consumption
Beyond natural attractions, many Chinese holiday-makers opted for industrial heritage sites, factories, and museums during the May Day holiday this year, seeking to experience the craftsmanship behind "Made in China" and the beauty of labor.
In Jingdezhen, an eastern Chinese city with over 1,700 years of ceramic-making history, visitors joined a fire-lighting ceremony at imperial kilns dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1644). They added firewood to centuries-old furnaces before trying porcelain-making techniques such as wheel throwing, glazing and painting, experiencing craftsmanship that has endured for a thousand years.
"We truly see the wisdom of ancient people and their craftsmanship. Especially in the Labor Day holiday, we should honor working people in this way," said Song Yichen, a visitor.
In Jiaxing, a city in east China's Zhejiang Province, families toured the rocket production base of LandSpace, where the Zhuque-2 carrier rocket -- the world's first liquid oxygen-methane rocket to reach orbit -- was developed.
A close look at fuel tanks and rocket segments assembled in the workshop marveled both children and adults.
At Beijing's Shougang Park, once a steel plant, visitors watched a restored blast furnace demonstrate the full steel-making process, gaining a vivid sense of steelworkers' dedication and craftsmanship.
Another furnace in the park has been converted into a cyberpunk-style amusement park, where industrial relics combine with modern technology to create a distinctive visitor experience.
In Tianjin, a neighboring city of Beijing, visitors explored the Tianjin Machine Tool Industry Museum, where more than 40 historic machines and 200 artifacts are on display. Tourists are allowed to operate miniature models, experiencing the dialogue between metal and wisdom.
Industrial tourism gains popularity during May Day holiday
