Tourists visit the Maiji Mountain Grottoes in Tianshui, Gansu province, on April 5. [Photo/gansudaily.com.cn]

During the Qingming holiday, the cultural and tourism market in Tianshui city, Gansu province, remained popular, attracting countless tourists to experience the beauty of spring.

Qinzhou district of Tianshui, was bustling with visitors amidst blooming magnolias, forsythias, and crabapples. At Dragon City Square, situated in the heart of the city, lively snack stalls stretched along the road, offering local delicacies from Tianshui, constantly tantalizing the tastebuds of tourists.

Statistics show that Tianshui welcomed 309,000 and 348,600 visitors on April 4 and 5, respectively, generating comprehensive tourism revenues of 177 million ($24.46 million) and 198 million yuan ($27.36 million). Throughout the Qingming holiday, the enticing aroma and taste of the local delicacy, Malatang, continued to draw tourists to explore this ancient city.

"This year's Qingming Festival saw a tourism boom in the scenic area. On the first day of the holiday, by 10 am, all tickets for the day had been sold out," said Zhang Hui, deputy director of the Maiji Mountain Scenic Area Management Committee. On the first day of the Qingming Festival, the Maiji Mountain Scenic Area welcomed 46,900 visitors and generated 18 million yuan ($2.48 million) in tourism revenue, an increase of 334.8 percent and 227.28 percent, compared to last year.

Since March this year, Tianshui city has received a total of 5.5 million visitors, achieving a comprehensive tourism revenue of 3.18 billion yuan ($439.48 million). The vibrant cultural and tourism market is the result of Gansu province's continuous efforts to integrate culture and tourism, expand, break through, and innovate in cultural and tourism services.

"We are racing against time, absorbing the experience of previous internet-famous cities, continuously improving service guarantees, launching high-quality cultural and tourism products, and striving to enhance the visitor experience," said Zhang Yujing, deputy mayor of Tianshui.