According to China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, 295 million domestic trips were made during last week’s five-day Labor Day holiday, up 7.6% from 2023, with tourists spending over 166 billion yuan ($23 billion), up by 12.7%.

Apart from the usual destinations like Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu, small and medium-sized cities also proved popular among tourists seeking more relaxed and lower-cost travel.

Sixth Tone selects some photos from around China capturing the holiday’s booming tourism sector.

Contributions: Tom Arnstein.

(Header image: People at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, May 2, 2024. Pang Zhengzheng/VCG)