Holiday puts Guangxi in spotlight with record-breaking boom

During the May Day holiday, Guangxi's cultural and tourism market thrived with vibrant activities and surging visitors. Scenic spots, museums, and cultural venues saw overwhelming crowds, while hospitality and catering industries experienced robust consumption.

Popular destinations like Guilin's Lijiang River witnessed record-breaking numbers of tourists, with bamboo rafts covering every inch of water—a scene humorously dubbed "busier than the Strait of Malacca" online.

Tourists take bamboo raft rides at night in the Yulong River Scenic Area, Guilin's national tourism resort. [Photo by Huang Shenglin/Guangxi Daily]

Nanning's Qingxiu Mountain and Hechi's Sanmenhai Scenic Area also attracted massive crowds, while Beihai's Weizhou Island saw a 408-percent spike in ticket bookings.

Cultural events added to the allure. Wuzhou's Qilou City blended floral displays with historic architecture, creating romantic photo spots, while Huangyao Ancient Town combined martial arts themes with folk performances. Innovative tech integrations, such as Beihai Silver Beach's AI tour guides, enhanced the visitor experience.

Wuzhou's historic Qilou City bustles with visitors during the May Day holiday. [Photo by Chen Jianfeng/Guangxi Daily]

The tourism boom boosted local economies. Specialty products like Zhuang brocade in Chongzuo and Yao ethnic costumes in Fuchuan saw soaring sales, while nighttime economies flourished with light shows and music festivals, further energizing the market.

Guangxi's dynamic May Day holiday not only showcased its rich cultural and natural assets but also injected strong momentum into regional economic growth.