Zhanjiang replete with rip-roaring good times throughout holiday

The Confucian Cultural City in Suixi county is crowded with tourists during Spring Festival holiday period. [Photo by Lang Shuchen/Zhanjiang Daily]

Zhanjiang welcomed 4.8 million tourists during the Spring Festival holiday period from Feb 15 to 21, earning some 1.8 billion yuan ($283.7 million) in revenue, up 34.33 and 47.11 percent from the previous year respectively.

As always, coastal tourism remains the city's top-draw attraction. The newly opened Cowboy Small Town in Dragon Bay Oceanic Resort received more than 150,000 visitors during the holiday, while Jinsha Bay welcomed around 30,000 tourists daily.

Rural tourism has become a new growth pole in recent years, with a raft of activities on offer. Food festivals, lantern shows, root carving exhibitions, bicycling races as well as beach & tent festival were all held in the countryside to liven up the festive atmosphere.

To highlight the Year of the Dog, an animated "man's best friend" lantern is erected at the Sea-view Corridor. [Photo by Lang Shuchen/Zhanjiang Daily]

In keeping with traditions, local folk arts were also celebrated during the Lunar New Year festivities. Nian Li, a century-old custom which can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 BC) was staged at the Dragon Bay Oceanic Resort, along with Southern School of Cantonese Opera and puppet shows.

Lanterns of different shapes and colors were hung everywhere, from Sanlingshan National Forest Park to Luogang Small Town and Colorful Sharing Park. Not only has this enriched the night life of visitors, the illumination also extended their stay in scenic areas while boosting consumption.

To ensure a smooth holiday period, the Zhanjiang Tourism Administration tightened controls over local tourist markets. Multiple squads were dispatched to major tourist attractions and travel routes to crack down on illegal activities such as compulsive consumption and overcharging.

As of Feb 21, there has been no report of tourism safety issues, illegal business operations and major complaints about tourism service quality.

Tourists whet their palates in front of culinary delicacies from all around the country at a food street in Zhanjiang. [Photo by Lang Shuchen/Zhanjiang Daily]