In 2008, Anhui extended the expressway by about 50 kilometers inside Huangshan city, which is famous for Huangshan Mountain, or Yellow Mountain, which is listed as a UNESCO Cultural and Natural Heritage and a Global Geopark.

Local officials said the city's tourism sector started booming in the 1980s, after the country's then leader Deng Xiaoping, who initiated the reform and opening-up in 1978, visited Huangshan Mountain in July 1979.

"The visit was considered the beginning of China's modern tourism development," said Fang Ying, deputy head of Huangshan's culture and tourism bureau.

About 104,000 people visited the mountain in 1979. That number could be exceeded in just two days during the busy season before the COVID-19 outbreak.