An aerial view of the Daren Valley in Jiangbei district, Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/Ningbo Evening News]

Ningbo in East China's Zhejiang province was ranked eighth nationwide in terms of the number of rural tourists during the three-day Qingming Festival holiday which ended on April 5, according to a report released by online domestic travel agency Ctrip.

Beijing topped the ranking, followed by Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Chongqing, Shenzhen, Wuhan and Nanjing.

Due to the recent COVID-19 outbreaks across the country, short-distance trips within a province and to suburbs were popular during this year's Qingming Festival, according to the report.

Official statistics show that more than 70 percent of the travel package orders for Zhejiang rural scenic spots on the Ctrip during the holiday were placed by local residents.

In Ningbo, scenic spots including Jiufeng Mountain and Eastern Zhejiang Dazhuhai Scenic Spot emerged as popular destinations among local tourists.

Jiufeng Mountain, which currently has vast stretches of cherry blossoms in full bloom, received more than 11,000 visitors during the holiday.

The Eastern Zhejiang Dazhuhai Scenic Spot rolled out a 39.9 yuan ($6.13) package that gave visitors admission to the scenic spot and the right to dig bamboo shoots. In two days, the scenic spot welcomed over 3,300 tourists.