Performances held in Daming Lake in Jinan, provincial capital of Shandong, attracted many tourists. Photo by China Daily

During the Spring Festival holidays, East China's Shandong province received 12.13 million tourists, a year-on-year increase of 20.3 percent, according to the statistics from the Shandong Tourism Bureau. Tourism during the festival holidays generated 8.7 billion yuan ($1.38 billion) for the province, a 26.1 percent increase year on year.

Tourism activities featuring the traditional Chinese culture were held across Shandong, attracting flocks of tourists.

Jinan, the provincial capital of Shandong, launched a series of activities to pray for blessings and that allowed tourists to enjoy the springs and lanterns. The city also offered folk performances. These activities attracted tourists across China as well as overseas tourists from Singapore, America and Malaysia.

In Zhoucun, a town featuring old taverns, antique shops, painting and calligraphy was visited by hundreds of thousands tourists. This also included 70 overseas students involved in activities such as the making of dumplings, setting off firecrackers and praying for happiness on the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year on Jan 23.

The skiing, hot springs and wine-featured chateau travel enriched the province's tourism market. Earnings from 20 hot spring spots reached 16.2 million yuan, according to statistics from the Shandong Tourism Bureau. The number for ten skiing spots was 15.32 million yuan.

By Zhao Ruixue (China Daily Shandong Bureau)

Edited by Chen Zhilin and Rakhee M