Nearly 1.44 million tourists were received by 18 scenic spots and rural tourism spots monitored by the local government during the National Day holiday from Oct 1 to 7 in Tai'an, an average increase of 5.62 percent, local authorities said.

The influx of visitors led to the city's tourism industry generating revenue of 115 million yuan ($16.17 million), with growth averaging 5.88 percent.

In particular, the city's well-known Mount Tai Scenic Area welcomed 386,000 tourists, up 19.9 percent year-on-year.

Cultural tourism was highlighted during the National Day Golden Week holiday. More than 200 exhibitions, performances, and celebrations were launched across the city, attracting nearly 200,000 visitors.

In celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, scenic spots in the city launched various themed activities to add a festive touch to the holiday.

Ticket discounts were also offered by many scenic spots to attract more visitors.

Rural tourism proved popular among visitors. Many chose to enjoy a relaxing holiday in the countryside where they could get close to nature, enjoy rural cuisine and customs, as well as have farming experiences.

Many agritourism sites launched fruit picking activities to add fun to the rural tours, which also boosted consumption of local homestays, restaurants, and agricultural products.

According to the Tai'an municipal bureau of culture and tourism, five villages included in the statistics, including Liyu village and Zhangpingwa village, received a total of 88,200 tourists, generating an income of 4.74 million yuan.

Visitors sing patriotic songs on the summit of Mount Tai to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on Oct 1 in Tai’an. [Photo/IC]

A family enjoys their holiday at a scenic spot in Tai'an, Shandong province on Oct 2. [Photo/IC]