Roundup

DOMESTIC TRIPS HIT 24M

China saw about 24 million domestic tourist trips made during the Qingming Festival, which fell on Wednesday, up 22.7 percent from 2022, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The trips were estimated to generate 6.52 billion yuan ($945 million) in tourist revenue, an increase of 29 percent year-on-year, said the ministry. Data from Alibaba's travel branch, Fliggy, show that bookings for tourism products soared sixfold on Wednesday compared with 2022. Museums and amusement parks were the hottest destinations.

PROJECTS WORTH 108B

Shanghai authorities announced 28 cultural and tourism projects on Tuesday with a total investment of 108 billion yuan ($15.7 billion). The projects cover cultural relics, ancient residences, fashion and art, as well as memorial halls of martyrs. One of the major projects includes an indoor ski resort with an area of more than 90,000 square meters. It is scheduled to open to the public in the first half of 2024 and expected to extend Shanghai's tourism industrial chain, stirring winter sports fervor among residents.

UNIQUE COLLECTIONS

Beijing has listed and opened six museum-like institutions that have distinct themes and rich collections. But they are not officially registered as museums, according to the Beijing Cultural Heritage Bureau. These institutions focus on specific things: plaques, sports, sound, jade, digital artworks and newspapers. The official listing of such institutions to the public is conducive to enriching museum categories and passing on traditional Chinese culture in the capital, according to the bureau.

NEW RESORTS BY WANDA

Wanda Hotels & Resorts opened eight new hotels across China during the first quarter. They are located in Shanxi, Henan, Anhui, Yunnan and Jiangsu provinces. By the end of this year, the number of new openings by the hospitality group is projected to surpass 30, including two in Bangkok and Phuket Island in Thailand.

OZ FLIGHTS RESUME

Tianjin Airlines has resumed its regular cross-continental flight service since March 24, linking the northern municipality to Zhengzhou, Henan province, and Sydney, Australia. The resumption of the flight is of significance to developing Tianjin into a hub of regional aviation and international airfreight logistics, a local official said. The airline plans to resume its other international flight services to Japan, South Korea, Russia and Australia, while seeking to open more new overseas air routes, according to the company.

CARE ABOVE THE CLOUDS

China Southern Airlines received a mobile message of thanks from passenger Hu Fenglan. She flew with the airline from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, to Beijing on March 30. During the trip, Hu suddenly felt sick and dizzy. The crew members took care of her all the way and offered her assistance. As a result, she felt better by the time the plane landed in Beijing.

Xinhua - China Daily