Azalea flowers are in full bloom at Dazhushan Mountain Scenic Area in Qingdao, Shandong province. [Photo/WeChat account: qd12301]

The coastal city of Qingdao, Shandong province saw a tourism boom both in traveler numbers and tourism-related revenues during the just-concluded Qingming holiday, which ran from April 4 to 6.

Data from online travel platform Ctrip shows that tourism bookings in Qingdao increased by 165 percent compared to the same period last year, while scenic spot ticket orders grew by 299 percent year-on-year. The main sources of tourists were from Beijing, Jinan, Yantai, Weifang, and Shanghai. Qingdao also emerged as a "dark horse" tourism destination for those driving their own cars during the Qingming holiday.

The Qingming holiday coincided with the second Qingdao Cherry Blossom Festival. The Qingdao Beer Museum collaborated with Beizhai Street in Laoshan district and the Jiushui Tourist Service Center in the Jiushui Scenic Area of Laoshan, offering an interconnected poetry, wine, and flower experience to visitors.

During the three-day holiday, the city's Laoshan Mountain Scenic Area launched a series of colorful activities for tourists, which included sightseeing, tasting local cuisine, staying in homestays, experiencing local culture, and visiting flower markets. With these diverse activities, Laoshan Mountain received over 110,000 visitors during the three-day Qingming holiday.

The diverse experiences offered during the Qingming holiday, including special study tours, driving trips, and sports tourism, led to a booming holiday cultural and tourism market in Qingdao.