The eastern coastal city of Qingdao, Shandong province, received a total of 2,362,400 visitors during the May Day holiday, according to the Qingdao municipal bureau of culture and tourism.

From May 1 to 5, the tourists contributed a total of 2.96 billion yuan ($416 million) in revenue, said the bureau.

Qingdao sees a boom in tourism over the five-day May Day holiday from May 1 to 5. [Photo/dailyqd.com]

The city's scenic spots were required to limit tourist numbers to less than 30 percent of their daily or real-time visitor capacity amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Tourists were required to book tickets online in advance and reserve visiting slots on official websites.

Tourists were also required to show their health QR codes and have their body temperatures taken for safety.

The Qingdao municipal bureau of culture and tourism recommended four themed tourism routes to visitors, which highlighted the city’s mountains, rural tourism, fashion areas and floral scenery.

A staff member disinfects the public area at a scenic spot in Qingdao during the May Day holiday. [Photo/dailyqd.com]

Two-day or three-day short trips and self-driving tours became more popular among visitors. Local residents preferred to relax in surrounding rural areas, where they could get close to the nature, enjoy the blooming flowers and pick fruit.

The nighttime economy also experienced a rebound during the holiday, with more tourists going out at night as temperatures rose.

Tourists enjoy the May Day holiday in Qingdao, Shandong province. [Photo/dailyqd.com]

Various cultural activities took place online. Qingdao Library launched 37 activities to promote reading among the public. The Qingdao Cultural Center organized 12 promotional activities online, featuring the city's unique culture and tourism resources, through its official website and digital platforms.

The city also dispatched more law enforcement officers to inspect scenic spots, tourism enterprises, cultural venues and travel agencies, to make sure that the tourism sector ran smoothly and in good order during the holiday.