The southern Chinese province of Hainan and the northeastern province of Jilin have rolled out a variety of themed activities and immersive experiences from underwater performances and food-making workshops to an indoor mountain-themed shopping complex, aiming to create diverse tourism and consumption scenarios and stimulate spending during the week-long National Day holiday beginning Thursday.
During the National Day holiday, Hainan becomes a popular travel destination for many tourists.
Local authorities have launched a variety of themed activities to create diverse tourism and consumption experiences.
Recently, Wuzhizhou Island in Hainan's Sanya City has been bustling with visitors, with more than 6,000 people arriving on the island on the first day of the holiday alone.
To celebrate the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the island organized a themed performance.
Scenic area staff formed a three-dimensional array underwater, on land, and in the air, creating a festive atmosphere through parades featuring jet skis and underwater divers.
Back on shore, visitors could try their hand at preparing specialty dishes from Hainan and Southeast Asia, transforming the dining experience from passively waiting for a meal to actively participating in it.
In addition to enjoying the ocean views, at Baishiling Tourism Scenic Area on the banks of the Wanquan River in Hainan's Qionghai City, visitors can also climb to higher ground to admire the mountains.
During the holiday, the scenic spot is festively decorated, with red flags fluttering along both sides of the main trail and National Day-themed photo spots set up.
Visitors can see beautiful views almost everywhere, and on the first day of the holiday, the tourist attraction received 2,000 visitors.
"Since it's National Day, the decorations here at the scenic area really set the mood. The rock-climbing activity was also a lot of fun. Coming here with friends not only helps us stay fit but also offers a great recreational experience," said Chen Yingying, a tourist.
In Changchun, capital city of Jilin Province, shoppers can enjoy an immersive mountain climbing experience while shopping indoors.
Hidden in the heart of the city, the Hills, the first indoor mountain-themed shopping complex in China, offer residents and tourists a brand-new experience.
Unlike the flat floor layouts of traditional shopping malls, stepping into the mall means leaving behind standardized escalators and straight walkways.
Instead, visitors encounter undulating mountain slopes, winding mountain trails and cave-like alleys.
This immersive experience allows residents and tourists to enjoy a leisurely mini-vacation right in the heart of the city's commercial district.
"This is the first time we've seen such a shopping environment -- one that incorporates hills and slopes right in the city. It's very refreshing," said Du Mingchun, a tourist.
Restaurants, unique cultural and creative shops, handicraft workshops and trendy themed stores are scattered throughout the mall.
In addition to the immersive mountain scenery and niche shops, there are also special exhibitions and performances held from time to time, which not only attract tourists but also bring a steady stream of customers.
"Compared with previous weekdays, daily foot traffic has increased by about three to four times. Our daily sales are around 30,000 yuan (nearly 4,475 U.S. dollars) to 40,000 yuan," said Lin Zhiyuan, a shop owner.
According to big data, on the first day of the National Day holiday, the mall had recorded over 54,000 shopper visits as of 17:00, an 8.5-percent year-on-year increase, with sales 6.9 percent higher than last year's. The Hongqi Street commercial district, where the mall is located, saw over 400,000 visitor visits, a 5.6-percent increase year on year.
Hainan, Jilin launch diverse experiences to boost National Day holiday consumption
