Retailers ecstatic, tourists delighted during holiday

More than 1.35 million visitors set foot in Zhuhai during the May Day holiday from April 29 to May 1, up 18.5 percent year-on-year. They spent over 600 million yuan ($87 million), contributing considerably to Zhuhai's economic growth.

Lovers Avenue near Fisher Maiden on May Day

Zhuhai was among China's top 10 most popular tourist destinations during the three-day break, according to statistics published by Ctrip, a leading domestic travel service provider. The Zhuhai Culture, Sports & Tourism Bureau reports that more than 349,200 tourists stayed overnight in the city, an increase of 10.3 percent over the same period last year.

Children chase bubbles at Haibin Park.

During the May Day holiday, flights to islands were added and almost-full hotels and restaurants multiplied revenue. Hill hiking, sea angling, shore fishing, and the Tea Ceremony at Dreamland Resort on Big Wanshan Island were among many special tourism activities on the islands.

Popular cuisines at the Wanshan Food Festival were offered in island restaurants in the Wanshan Marine Development Experimental Zone. Available to those who could afford it were helicopter tours from Zhuhai Jiuzhou Airport in Jida to Wailingding, Dong'ao, Big Wanshan, Guishan, and Dangan islands.

Theme activities in Hengqin Chimelong International Ocean Tourist Resort, Ocean Spring Resort, and New Yuanming Palace were enjoyed by tourists from around the country. Chimelong Ocean Kingdom was evaluated as one of the most popular domestic scenic spots by Ctrip.

Featured country tours that Zhuhai has developed in recent years attracted many self-driving visitors from surrounding cities. Activities of the 2017 Doumen Countryside Tourism Year gathered bands, singers, and professional DJs from across the country to perform at the Shili Lianjiang Agriculture Sightseeing & Experience Garden.

3rd Tangjiawan Food Festival [Photos by Zhong Fan / Zhuhai Daily]

Other activities to cater to tourists included the May Day Carnival at Golden Beach and Traditional Martial Arts Championship at Huatian Water Village Ecological Park in Jinwan District, 3rd Tangjiawan Food Festival on Qi'ao Island of Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone, and Hakka Culture Tourism Carnival at Xiashan Village and Mulberry Leaf & Grass Carp Food Festival at Qinghe Farm in Dongwan Village of Lianzhou Town in Doumen District. 

Carnival on Golden Beach [Photo by Zhang Zhou / Zhuhai Daily]