East China's Shandong province welcomed more tourists than ever before during the three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday, after the successful hosting of the 18th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in the province on June 9 to 10.

The SCO summit host city Qingdao specifically, received 4.09 million tourists during the holiday, a year-on-year growth of 35.8 percent, with tourism revenue totaling 9.26 billion yuan ($1.43 billion), up by 22.7 percent from the same period last year, according to statistics from the Qingdao tourism development committee.

The summit venue as well as surrounding tourist spots including the May Fourth Square, Fushan Bay and the Lingshan Bay Film and Television Cultural Industry Area along Qingdao’s coastline were among the most popular spots for tourists.

Yantai, a picturesque coastal city in northern Shandong, welcomed 3.1 million tourists during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, a year-on-year growth of 15.2 percent, bringing in 3.07 billion yuan of tourism revenue, up 18.67 percent compared with the same period last year. 

A series of intangible cultural heritage themed activities were launched across the province at several major cultural scenic areas, attracting hordes of visitors, including at the Taierzhuang ancient town in Zaozhuang, the Temple of Confucius and Kong Family Mansion in Qufu, and the Baifo Mountain Cultural Industrial Park in Tai’an. 

Additionally, several of Shandong's coastal cities, such as Weihai, Rizhao and Yantai promoted various ocean related tourism activities, which drew many visitors to enjoy the delights of the province's scenic coastline. 

Dragon Boat Festival, which falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, is a traditional Chinese holiday that commemorates the death of a patriotic poet Qu Yuan of the state of Chu, who lived during the Warring States period (475-221 BC).

Traditional celebrations of the Dragon Boat Festival include eating zongzi, drinking realgar wine, and racing dragon boats.

Visitors enjoy the Dragon Boat Festival holiday at Qushuiting Street, a culturally significant alley in the historical center of Jinan, capital of Shandong province. [Photo/iqilu.com] 

A dragon boat racing is held at the Taierzhuang ancient town to mark the traditional Chinese holiday. [Photo/dzwww.com] 

The May Fourth Square is swarmed with visitors during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday in Qingdao, host city of the SCO summit. [Photo/Xinhua]