Dragon Boat Festival spotlights tourism recovery in China
CGTN
Travelers walk on platforms at a high-speed railway station in Nanjing City, east China's Jiangsu Province. /CFP

Travelers walk on platforms at a high-speed railway station in Nanjing City, east China's Jiangsu Province. /CFP

The coronavirus has thrown a wrench into everyone's travel plans, but with the epidemic situation coming under control in China, more are ready to roam. During the Dragon Boat Festival, millions of holidaymakers packed heir bags and hit the road.

In the past three days, 48.8 million people were traveling around the country, accounting for 50.9 percent of last year's journeyers, according to data by the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Tourism revenue stood at 12.3 billion yuan (1.7 billion U.S. dollars), about 31.2 percent of last year.

Most travelers opted to drive on their own to nearby cities, suburban areas and cultural resorts. As the mercury rises, ocean-theme parks, aquariums, zoos, and ancient towns became a magnet for sightseers.

Travelers walk on platforms at a high-speed railway station in Nanjing City, east China's Jiangsu Province. /CFP

Travelers walk on platforms at a high-speed railway station in Nanjing City, east China's Jiangsu Province. /CFP

The provinces of Hebei, Hainan, Sichuan, Anhui, Shanxi, and Jiangsu attracted the most traffic over the holiday, owing to their rich natural and cultural highlights. They accounted for more than 46 percent of the recovered market.

Meanwhile, according to Chinese travel service provider Trip.com, traveling in motorhomes has gained steam thanks to COVID-19, up 40 percent from last year. Vacationists in Guangdong, Zhejiang and Shanghai are driving the trend.

Tourists walk in a commercial area in Fuzhou City, southeast China's Fujian Province. /CFP

Tourists walk in a commercial area in Fuzhou City, southeast China's Fujian Province. /CFP

And amid strict epidemic control and prevention measures, impromptu travel is out and careful planning is in.

Data provided by the Ministry of Transport show that during the past three days, 78.9 million passenger trips have been made by trains, planes and boats. The country's expressways saw a flow of 92.7 million automobiles, although what percentage of the total holidaymakers constituted was not clear.