Visitors watch a stage play at Liangshan Mountain scenic site, which is located in Liangshan county, Jining, East China's Shandong province. [Photo/jnnews.tv]

Jining in East China's Shandong province was a popular tourist destination during this year's May Day holiday that fell from May 1 to 5, which was a result of local government and tourist attractions' efforts to organize diverse activities, offer discounts, as well as provide high quality services.

According to a report published on May 5 by Trip.com Group, an online travel agency, and Xinhua Finance, Jining has been rated as one of the top 10 cities in China that has experienced the most remarkable growth in tourism during the May Day holiday.

Data showed that 24 tourist attractions in Jining received 1.82 million visits during the five-day holiday, five times the number in 2020 and a 20.4-percent increase compared to 2019. The tourism revenue of the 24 scenic spots reached 54.9 million yuan ($8.48 million), up 17.78 percent compared to 2019.

A variety of cultural and entertainment activities have been held in the city's cultural venues, as well as scenic sites during the holiday. The Public Library of Jining held an online activity themed around the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, while Jining Museum and the city's cultural center exhibited art and intangible cultural heritage items to promote traditional culture. The three venues received around 40,000 visits in the five-day holiday.

Local troupes and attractions also staged many magic shows, firework shows, concerts, traditional Chinese operas, as well as comic conventions to delight visitors. A site in Sishui county prepared a series of activities where families could make pottery, tofu, or wooden artifacts together.

During the holiday, a number of discounts were offered to boost consumption. Jining's bureau of culture and tourism distributed coupons worth 400,000 yuan for cultural and tourism products. Many scenic sites, hotels, restaurants, and travel agencies also gave customers a big discount.

Jining has also taken several measures to provide tourists with better travel experience. A number of bus lines were introduced so that tourists can travel between train stations, airports, and tourist destinations more easily. More than 2,000 volunteers helped tourists buy tickets or provide information at tourist attractions across the city.