Spectators take photos of the lion dance formation during the Chinese New Year folk parade in Chongchuan district. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

Nantong in Jiangsu province received about 7.45 million tourists and generated 5.56 billion yuan ($764.56 million) in tourism revenue during the eight-day Spring Festival holiday, which ended on Feb 4.

The figures represent year-on-year increases of 14.2 percent and 15.7 percent, respectively.

The city's monitored A-level tourist attractions, key rural tourism villages, and cultural facilities received 4.18 million visitors, who spent about 3.52 billion yuan, with growth rates of 18.5 percent and 18.9 percent, respectively.

Data from Ctrip, an online travel platform, shows that during the Spring Festival holiday, out-of-town tourists in Nantong accounted for 59 percent of the total, and Nantong Forest Safari Park ranked fifth in terms of visitor numbers in the province.

Nandajie commercial block in Chongchuan district relaunched the Chinese New Year folk parade, featuring 12 folk performance formations showcasing local intangible cultural heritage items such as the Hai'an flower drum dance and Rugao puppet show.

The event drew 72,000 on-site spectators and over 3 million online interactions. From the first to the sixth day of the Chinese New Year, large-scale folk parades were also held in Hai'an, Rudong, Qidong, Tongzhou, and other places, attracting nearly 300,000 on-site participants.

During the holiday, various scenic spots across the city provided a wide array of offerings to enhance the festive spirit. Attractions such as Haohe River Scenic Area, Langshan Mountain Scenic Area, and Nantong Forest Safari Park attracted a large number of visitors.

All cultural venues in Nantong remained open during the Spring Festival holiday, offering a series of exhibitions and diverse cultural experiences centered around Spring Festival.