As May Day is approaching, Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality has attracted many tourists. To bring high-quality travel experiences to visitors during the holiday, Chongqing's scenic areas have launched theme activities, formulated preferential policies, and upgraded service measures.

Adjust the opening hours and prepare heatstroke prevention supplies

Yuzhong District, the "mother town" of Chongqing, is one of the first choices for tourists to Chongqing by the district's natural landscapes and urban charm. Among the district's scenic spots, Hongyadong, Jiefangbei Pedestrian Street, Yangtze River Cableway, and Shibati Old Street are popular. Though the Labor Day holiday is a few days away, the Jiefangbei Pedestrian Street, Hongya Cave, and other scenic spots busy, with hotpot restaurants and snack stalls attracting numerous diners.

According to Hongyadong scenic area, to bring a better visual experience to tourists, the lighting of Hongyadong's outer wall will last from 19:30 to 23:00 during the Labor Day holiday, which is extended by half an hour. "As night falls later now, we extended the period of lighting so that more tourists can appreciate the spectacular night view of Hongya Cave," said a director of the scenic area.

Night view of Hongyadong. (Photo/Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development)

Suburban scenic areas offer sales and discounts

Besides the main urban area, suburban Chongqing regions are also worth visiting. Some scenic suburban areas have shown great sincerity by providing deals and discounts during the Labor Day holiday.

Jinfo Mountain scenic area in Nanchuan District will organize floral sightseeing tours and visits to gardens/parks, during which tourists can watch large-scale Hanfu (traditional clothing of China's Han ethnic group) parades, appreciate Chinese-style dance performances, and experience such interactive games as painting Chinese-style paper kites. There will be a lot of local delicacies, including steamed cattle heads, square bamboo shoots, and rice noodles. The scenic area will provide discounts for tourists to participate in the Jinfo Mountain Rhododendron Festival.

Jinfo Mountain scenic area in Nanchuan District. (Photo/Wang Xin)

Moreover, Gongtan Ancient Town in Youyang Tujia-Miao Autonomous County will hold the Artistic Gongtan · Folk Kite Festival. Tourists can paint and fly super-large and special-shaped kites at the event site and enjoy fantastic folk music performances.

Mexin Wine Town in Fuling District, including Cableway Park in the scenic area, will offer ticket package discounts online during the Labor Day holiday. Tourists can watch free performances such as mounted police parades, street dances, and radio gymnastics flash mobs and live in homestays by the Yangtze River, experiencing integrated supporting services of "dining, drinking, entertainment, and accommodation."

An immersive experience of Chongqing culture

With the iterative upgrading of people's needs and preferences, immersive tourism experience gradually came into public sight and became popular. As "red tourism" is a shining "brand name" of Chongqing, the city has deeply explored "red" resources to stage immersive plays. During the Labor Day holiday this year, let's visit "red" scenic areas to understand the land of heroes.

Recently, Zhazidong Prison scenic area launched some "Hongyan Spirit-themed immersive theaters" characterized by deep integration of "red" culture and tourism, including the epic theater Hongyan Spirit and the scenario-based theater Before the Dawn. Through touching stories of martyrs, the two theaters bring back lots of "red" memories. During the holiday, the scenic area will hold more wonderful performances to meet the spiritual needs of residents. At the same time, Hongyan Village, White Mansion, Zhazidong Prison, and other scenic areas will organize such activities as poetry recitation and scenario-based dramas to interpret "red" stories and lead the audience to understand the revolutionary spirit deeply.

Chongqing · 1949, a large-scale historical stage play, is a classic "immersive new media work." It tells the story of members of the Communist Party of China (CPC) imprisoned in Zhazidong Prison and White Mansion before Chongqing's liberation. Indomitable, they withstood all kinds of torture.

The stills of "Chongqing 1949". (Photo/Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development)

The Labor Day holiday is coming! Have you made a detailed plan for a travel to Chongqing?