Visitors seen at a scenic spot in Taizhou, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/WeChat account: tzfb001]

Taizhou in East China's Zhejiang province experienced a remarkable increase in tourist visits during the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holiday.

According to the Taizhou Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Tourism, and Sports, the city welcomed a total of 4.2 million tourists, marking a 25.9-percent increase compared to the same period in 2019. This growth rate was the highest in Zhejiang.

Tourists flocked to several popular destinations in Taizhou, such as the City Wall of the Ancient City, Tiantai Mountain Scenic Area, Shenxianju Scenic Area, and Changyu Dongtian Scenic Area.

Travel by train and air also saw a significant increase during the holiday. From Sept 28 to Oct 6, Taizhou West Railway Station and Taizhou Railway Station witnessed over 500,000 passengers traveling to and from the city. The peak travel day was Sept 29, which saw more than 100,000 passengers. Taizhou Airport also experienced a surge in passenger travel, with 48,750 passengers and 382 flights recorded during the holiday. Additionally, the city's highways saw over 2.4 million vehicles passing through from Sept 29 to Oct 5.

Consumer spending in Taizhou also witnessed a boost during this holiday period. According to a consumption data report from Meituan, an online food delivery platform, the catering industry experienced an 18.4 percent increase compared to the same holiday period in 2022. The accommodation industry saw an 85.1 percent increase, while the tourism attraction industry enjoyed a 50.9 percent increase.

Notably, a substantial number of out-of-town tourists visited Taizhou, leading to a significant surge in consumption in various areas, including food, accommodation, tourism, and entertainment. The number of out-of-town tourists increased by 62.2 percent compared to the same period in 2022, with inter-provincial tourists accounting for 30.4 percent of the total, representing an 11.1 percentage point increase from 2022. The average daily consumption of out-of-town tourists also rose by 107.7 percent compared to the same holiday period in 2022, indicating the growing popularity of Taizhou in the national tourism market.