Shexian's bold move to issue free tickets to its main tourist spots has really paid off in the county, located in Huangshan city in southern Anhui province, local media reported.
Shexian county is home to ever-popular scenic spots such as the Huizhou Ancient Town – one of China's four best-preserved ancient towns – and ticket revenue was their main source of income for decades.
A panoramic view of Huizhou Ancient Town, one of China's four best-preserved ancient towns. It introduced free entry tickets at the start of 2022. [Photo/WeChat ID: gh_0c73ab80fdea]
Visitors used to pay to enjoy the charms of the ancient Huizhou-style architecture dating back to the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. These include theatrical stages, stone archways or teahouses, as well as white walls and black tiles with exquisite carvings.
In the wake of the county sparing no effort in wooing tourists, including the tickets initiative, Shexian received 1.97 million tourists in April. As a result, total tourism revenue topped 1.47 billion yuan ($209.32 million), a massive year-on-year increase of 488.18 percent and an increase of 13.68 percent over 2019.
During the May Day holiday from April 29 to May 3, the county received a total of 743,900 tourists, a year-on-year increase of 276.47 percent and an increase of 33.01 percent over 2019.
Visitors flock to Shexian county during the May Day holiday. [Photo/WeChat ID: gh_0c73ab80fdea]
With the flood of tourists, Shexian has undertaken various measures to cater to their demands and is aiming to provide better overall services.
For example, the county opened 22 parking lots in government buildings to the public at no charge during the May Day holiday, which won high praise from the public.