The seven-day National Day holiday has allowed millions of Chinese to travel to destinations abroad, while more international tourists are arriving in China to enjoy autumn.
When scrolling on the social apps these days, people may find videos of world-renowned tourist spots filled with visitors from China. "I flew to Yinchuan City first to board a plane to Seattle before transferring to Los Angeles. The flights cost me around 1,000 U.S. dollars altogether," said Mr. Song, a Chinese tourist.
"On our platform, London and Los Angeles have made it into the top-10 popular cross-continental destinations. Others on the top-10 list are Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, Bali, Singapore, Sydney, Phuket Island and Istanbul," said Shi Ke, a researcher with Qunar Big Data Research Institute. China's airports and airlines are adding flights to provide adequate capacity during the long-haul holiday.
"For this holiday the increased demand is primarily for more flights to Seoul of the Republic of Korea. We have six flights to Seoul every day," said Wang Qi, deputy general manager of marketing for Tianjin Binhai International Airport.
Meanwhile, more foreign tourists are also exploring Chinese cities thanks to China's 240-hour transit visa-free policy.
From historic streets and breathtaking landscapes to mountain resorts and seaside neighborhoods, destinations across China are offering travelers a wide range of holiday experiences.
"Amazing, like wonderful view, really really beautiful. I think it's the best we've seen for now. Honestly, we are all really surprised. We weren't expecting such beauty. So yeah, we're really happy about it," said Serravalle Giulia, an Italian tourist.
Long holiday boosts cross-border travel
Ancient towns and historic blocks across China have rolled out a range of activities combining traditional folk customs and cultural performances during the week-long National Day holiday to boost tourism.
Boyan Ancient Town, which sits at the eastern foot of the Taihang Mountains in Handan City, north China's Hebei Province, and dates back nearly a thousand years, is bustling with visitors during the holiday which runs from Oct 1 to Oct 7.
Traditional parades, folk acrobatics, and music performances have been staged in rotation, blending ancient charm with contemporary flair. The town receives nearly 10,000 visitors a day.
In Pianyan Ancient Town, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, a long street banquet has been set up along an old street, allowing visitors to enjoy local delicacies.
Folk performances featuring dramatic face-changing and fire-spitting acts have also been staged to add to the festive atmosphere.
"I'm from Beijing, and this is my first time attending a long street banquet. It's so lively, and the atmosphere here is wonderful. I'll definitely recommend it to my friends," said Kan Xinru, a tourist.
Also in Chongqing, Banqiao Old Town has staged a folk parade along its old street, with a plowing ox leading the way, farmers carrying goods on shoulder poles, and drums beating alongside.
"Many people are carrying things with shoulder poles, and there's so much stuff in the baskets. It really has a strong rural flavor," said Han Xu, a tourist.
In Wuzhou City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the century-old Qilou Block has drawn big crowds during the holiday.
Known for the iconic arcade building -- structure with a frontage arcade on the ground floor that allows pedestrians to pass through, the block has rolled out scheduled performances and consumption-boosting activities during the holiday. Visitors can not only indulge in local delicacies but also watch a robot make tea.
Ancient towns, historic blocks roll out diverse activities to boost National Day tourism
