Ningbo draws 12 million tourists over 8-day holiday

Crowds of people visit the Xiangshan Global Studios. [Photo/cnnb.com.cn]

During the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, Ningbo welcomed over 12.08 million visitors, ranking second in Zhejiang province. Tourism revenue reached 14.61 billion yuan ($2.05 billion), with the daily average up 10.54 percent year-on-year.

Top attractions included Xikou-Tengtou tourist scenic spot, Cicheng ancient town, Xiangshan Global Studios, Tianyi Pavilion and Moon Lake scenic spot, and Ningbo Songlan Mountain Tourist Resort.

Each site offered unique experiences: Cicheng celebrated the festivals with drone shows and folk parades, while Xiangshan Global Studios staged immersive Tang and Song dynasties (618–1279) night scenes, boosting ticket sales by 30 percent.

According to data from travel platform Fliggy, ticket sales for Ningbo attractions rose 59.1 percent year-on-year, underscoring the city's growing consumer power.

Mid-Autumn celebrations included a giant moon installation at Sanjiangkou, along with aerial performances and light shows, bringing the legend of Chang'e to life.

Cultural events were a hit: Ninghai's music festival attracted 20,000 fans, while Zhenhai's rice field art show and Dongshan village moon festival blended art and rural charm. The city's museums hosted 140 study tours and 28 temporary exhibitions, welcoming 654,000 visitors.

Accommodation bookings surged, especially in boutique homestays. Xiangshan's coastal retreats, Cicheng's hanfu-themed lodgings, and Siming Mountain's autumn festivities were almost fully booked. Dongqian Lake's lakeside afternoon tea and cycling packages also proved popular.

Ningbo Songlan Mountain Tourist Resort welcomes a large number of tourists. [Photo/cnnb.com.cn]