Beijing embraces tourist influx, booming consumption during holiday

People visit the Tian'anmen Square after a flag-raising ceremony to celebrate the 74th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 1, 2023. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

BEIJING, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- Beijing's scenic areas received more than 6.8 million visitors during the first three days of the ongoing National Day holiday, up 60.6 percent year on year and bringing a sharp increase in tourism revenues, local authorities have said.

During the period, the major scenic areas in the Chinese capital recorded a total revenue of over 418 million yuan (about 58 million U.S. dollars), a year-on-year increase of 25.2 percent, according to the Beijing municipal bureau of culture and tourism.

A total of 100 key enterprises monitored by the municipal commerce bureau, including department stores, supermarkets, specialty stores and enterprises in the catering and e-commerce sectors, have reported a total sales volume of 3.83 billion yuan, up 18.1 percent year on year, according to the latest data released by the bureau.

Local authorities have worked together to fuel the holiday economy, hosting various performances and other cultural activities, and launching attractive tourist routes.

This year's Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holiday began on Sept. 29 and will continue until Oct. 6. It is the longest public holiday in the second half of the year in China, and it is also known as "golden week."