Tourists flocking back to Shanxi as flowers bloom

Ancient landmarks complemented by colorful springtime plants proving an irresistible draw for crowds of sightseers

With the nationwide decline of the novel coronavirus, North China's Shanxi province has resumed attracting tourists with its beautiful spring sights and ancient cultural assets.

A Libyan student named Waled, who is studying at Taiyuan University of Technology, said he plans to visit Datong in northern Shanxi later this month.

"Originally, I planned to visit the city during Spring Festival in late January. However, the trip was delayed because of the COVID-19 epidemic," Waled said. He added that he had been staying in the school for several months.

"I'm bored with this period of time that is mostly spent indoors. I'm longing to go out, even if it is a short trip like the one to Datong," he said.

He added that the Yungang Grottoes in Datong is what attracted him. "There are a lot of Buddha statues in the city and there are even some relics left by the ancient Arabians," Waled said.