Short road trips were increasingly popular in Anhui province during Spring Festival thanks to the nice weather and free-ticket policy for local residents. Scenic spots around Tianzhu Mountain performed especially well, with the booking rate for star-rated hotels reaching 80 percent.

On the fifth day of the lunar year (February 4), the weather in Anqing city was bitterly cold, but the number of tourists in Tianzhu Mountain continued to increase.

Tianzhu Mountain scenic area saw a huge increase in the number of self-driving tourists starting the second day of the lunar year (February 1). But thorough preparation successfully prevented chaos. No major complaints were received.

Before the festival, the mountain introduced a series of activities featuring its fantastic winter views and colorful local culture. The plum blossoms were also a big draw for tourists. Many tourists participated in local folk activities and experienced local New Year’s celebrations. Special local products, such as pork, sweet potato stems and rice wine, were popular.

According to Mr Cao from Hangzhou city, Zhejiang province, taking a Spring Festival trip with the family has become popular. Compared to rushing from one dinner to another, this is far more interesting. Cao also expressed his future plan to take more friends and relatives to spend Spring Festival on Tianzhu Mountain.

Snow is expected to hit Tianzhu Mountain after the festival, which may attract more visitors from southern cities.

Edited by Michael Thai, Huang Pei