The Feb 4-10 Spring Festival holiday saw 27,558 Lunar New Year revelers spend a record 33.1 million yuan ($4.9 million) on islands in the Wanshan Archipelago, up 27 percent and 38 percent year-on-year respectively.

Gree Dong'ao Hotel on Dong'ao Island, Blue Coast B&B on Guishan, and Dreamland Resort on Wanshan had much to offer. Visitors could choose between beach activities, weddings, carnivals, night fairs, writing Spring Festival couplets, making dumplings, guessing lantern riddles, and touring garden fairs.

The average occupancy rate of hotels and B&Bs on Wailingding Island was up to 100 percent from Feb 5 to 9, and that of Gree Dong'ao Hotel was above 80 percent throughout the period.

Dockside dance

The archipelago travel boom is attributed to beautification projects, online and offline promotions, more leisure tourism activities such as a half-marathon, sailing and fishing competitions, bodybuilding events, seafood offerings, and micro film festivals.

In response to demand, the number of helicopter flights between Zhuhai Jiuzhou Helipad in Jida and the islands increased from 20 to 52 during Spring Festival. Discounted ferry tickets also brought more locals to the archipelago. 

Island beach during Spring Festival

Cai Shen shares the wealth [Photos provided by Wanshan Marine Development Experimental Zone]