Tourists attempt to make rubbings of Chinese characters with profound meanings in the Five Mountains scenic area during the New Year holiday. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

Nantong in Jiangsu province welcomed nearly 1.5 million tourists and generated 1.17 billion yuan ($164.15 million) during the three-day holiday weekend which ended on Jan 1.

The figures surged by 72.9 percent and 83.9 percent, respectively, year-on-year, with growth rates of 22.55 percent and 24.2 percent compared to the same period in 2022.

All tourist attractions in the city offered special celebrations to heat up the festive atmosphere.

The New Year's Eve activities at the Yuantuojiao Resort attracted numerous young attendees who listened to folk songs, enjoyed campfires and hot springs, and watched fireworks before welcoming the first rays of sunshine in 2024.

In the Five Mountains scenic area, visitors prayed for a smooth new year by lighting lanterns, copying Buddhist scriptures and making rubbings of the Chinese character "福" (meaning blessing in English).

Qitang Immersive Amusement Park attracted nearly 20,000 tourists with its campfires, fireworks, dragon dances, and iron flowers.

Cultural facilities in Nantong also offered a dazzling array of activities to entertain their visitors. Children explored traditional Chinese culture at the immersive theater of Nantong Museum while people made festive paper-cuts at Chongchuan Library to decorate their homes.