Tourists visit the Zhanqiao Pier, an iconic scenic area in Qingdao, Shandong province. [Photo/Guanhai News]

On New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, Qingdao's cultural and tourism attractions, districts, and cultural venues experienced a surge in visitor numbers. Many high-quality offerings led to strong cultural and tourism consumption and injected new vitality into winter tourism in Qingdao.

"Qingdao is a beautiful and romantic city, living up to its reputation of 'red tiles, green trees, blue seas, and clear skies,'" said a tourist from Shanghai, who chose to travel during off-peak times, arriving in Qingdao on the afternoon of Jan 1 and heading straight to Zhanqiao Pier.

Micro-travel became the top choice this holiday.

"Qingdao Mingyue Shanhaijian New Year's Eve Celebration welcomed 88,000 visitors, who enjoyed performances, food, games, and spent a romantic and unforgettable New Year's Eve celebration. Cute cartoon characters provided perfect photo-ops and brought a feeling of warmth amid the winter chill. The New Year's market and lantern festival were full of joy and a strong New Year atmosphere," said a staff member at Qingdao Mingyue Shanhaijian, noting that the area experienced a significant increase in cultural and tourism consumption due to the influx of visitors.

The excitement of ice, snow, and music brought endless joy to visitors. As Qingdao's only night skiing venue, Cangma Mountain Ski Resort extended its operating hours for New Year's Eve. On the last night of 2024, the speed and excitement of skiing on the snow made the experience unforgettable for visitors. A music carnival was also held on-site, which saw many visitors enthusiastically dancing to the music.