A fish feast is held at Rugao Wuyue Plaza during the May Day holiday. [Photo/WeChat account: rugaofabu]

Rugao recorded a significant boost in tourism during the five-day May Day holiday, recording nearly 1.1 million visits to its scenic spots and major commercial districts, reflecting strong growth in tourism, consumption and cultural activities.

Major shopping complexes organized a variety of themed events, trendy exhibitions and promotional campaigns to attract visitors. Rugao Wuyue Plaza, for example, hosted an anime carnival, a sunflower seed cracking contest and a fish feast, which collectively drew 326,500 visits and generated sales revenue of 22.8 million yuan ($3.35 million).

The city's A-level tourist attractions and key tourism villages saw about 405,400 visits, marking a year-on-year increase of 14.52 percent. Scenic areas introduced immersive cultural and leisure experiences to enhance visitor engagement. Shuihui Garden held a retro-style garden market, while the Cute Pet Kingdom in Pingyuanchi village began trial operations, offering family-friendly activities such as camping and fishing, which proved popular with visitors.

Sports events also contributed to the lively atmosphere during the holiday. A dragon boat performance attracted large crowds, while the 2025-26 CAAU Youth Basketball League (Nantong Station) and the 2026 Rugao Second City Soccer Invitational Tournament added to the festive energy in the city.

A dragon boat performance attracts many viewers during the holiday. [Photo/WeChat account: rugaofabu]