Tourists pose for photos at Golden Beach, a top scenic spot in Qidong, a county-level city in Nantong, eastern China’s Jiangsu province. [Photo/WeChat account of Qidong Daily]

Qidong, a county-level city in Nantong, eastern China’s Jiangsu province, made a list of fastest-growing self-guided tour destinations generated by Ctrip, a prominent travel company. The company announced the list on July 29. 

Data released by Ctrip showed that the number of self-guided tourists visiting Qidong in July increased by 84 percent over the previous month. 

Ctrip’s list was based on data provided by the travel company’s more than 7,000 branches. 

Other cities recognized for their growing popularity among self-guided tourists included Cixi, Zhejiang province, Lanzhou, Gansu province, Guiyang, Guizhou province, Xi’an, Shaanxi province, and more. All of these cities grew by 60 percent over the previous month. 

Recent years have seen an increase in efforts by the county-level city to develop its tourism sector, resulting in growing popularity among tourists. 

Qidong finished upgrading Golden Beach, one of the city’s most popular tourism destinations, in July. 

According to reports, the tourist destination received 2,000 tourists per day on average during summer vacation, with more than 70 percent of them choosing self-guided tours.

Tulips are in full bloom at the Yuantuojiao scenic area in Qidong, a county-level city in Nantong, eastern China’s Jiangsu province. [Photo/WeChat account of Qidong Daily]

Sunflowers are in bloom at the Qidong Halophytes Garden. [Photo/WeChat account of Qidong Daily]

An aerial view of Lyusi port in Qidong, a county-level city in Nantong, eastern China’s Jiangsu province [Photo/WeChat account of Qidong Daily]