The city of Xiamen in southeast China's Fujian Province saw a rise in visitor flows both on public transport and at tourist attractions on Saturday as the preferential policies launched by the government started to kick in.

Domestic tourism had ground to a halt for over two months due to the novel coronavirus outbreak. With the COVID-19 epidemic in China now largely under control, Xiamen recently introduced a series of measures to promote its tourism, hotel and catering sector. 

All national A-level scenic sites in the city are open to visitors for free until June 30, except those that haven't reopened. Travelers can take subways, buses and bus rapid transits for free on weekends and public holidays.

Saturday marked the first day of the free public transport in the city and the first weekend since the policy of free-entry to scenic sites was launched. The number of subway trips on Metro Line 1 and 2 exceeded 240,000 by 3 p.m., an increase of 129 percent from previous Saturdays, local media reported.

Gulangyu Island, a UNESCO World Heritage site that is known for its various historical buildings, received 15,588 visitors on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Botanical Garden welcomed 15,000 visitors and the Horticulture Expo Garden 27,889. It is the first time the number of visitors to the Horticulture Expo Garden has reached 20,000 since the COVID-19 epidemic broke out in the country.

Precautionary measures are in place in all public areas. Most of the scenic spots require online reservations, and visitors need to provide a green health code to enter. People still need to have their temperatures taken upon entry and wear masks during their visit.