Over 2.1 million travelers flock to Xiamen during Labor Day holiday

Travelers flock to Zhongshan Road, a must-see scenic spot in Xiamen, during Labor Day holiday. [Photo/news.xmnn.cn]

Xiamen welcomed more than 2.1 million visitors during the four-day Labor Day holiday, up 18.70 percent from last year, statistics from the Xiamen Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism showed.

Tourism revenue surged 26.78 percent to 2.44 billion yuan ($361.06 million) during the period.

Xiamen's picturesque seaside scenery is the biggest draw for visitors, with Gulangyu Island, a UNESCO world cultural heritage site, being the single most popular attraction, welcoming 198,000 visitors during the four-day break.

The study and research base in Jimei district was another highlight, entertaining more than 1,000 students with four activities, including a reading camp and a visit to old revolutionary areas.

Homestays in the city saw strong demand, especially in Gulangyu and Zengcuo'an, with more than 95 percent occupancy rates. Some homestays in Jimei district were fully booked.

As tolls for main bridges, channels and expressways were waived during the holiday, most travelers (94 percent to be specific) drove their own cars.

Thanks to easier access to Taiwan tour certificates and Xiamen's proximity to Jinmen, a city in Taiwan, many tourists paid a visit to the small island province after touring Xiamen.