Tourism revenue rose 16.4 percent year-on-year to 673 million yuan ($97 million), driven by bountiful travel options throughout Zhuhai during the June 7-9 Dragon Boat Festival (Duanwu Jie).

Of 804,300 visitors, up 10.8 percent, 247,600 stayed overnight, an increase of 8.1 percent from last year, according to the Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism & Sports Bureau.

Theme parks proved a top holiday pick, as the ever-popular Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in Hengqin New Area offered discounted family packages that included close-up encounters with rare marine animals.

Meanwhile, fruit picking emerged as a new draw for local tourism. Multitudes of visitors were attracted to Doumen Dongxing Eco-Park, Tianyuan Fruit Farm, and Yu Ti Yuan Garden, among other orchards, during the three-day break.

A canoe-kayak race at Nansha Bay southwest of Dong'ao Island and the Straw Culture Exhibition at Zhuhai Agricultural Paradise in Qianshan also drew crowds.

Caribbean Carnival at Ocean Spring Resort [Photo by Zhang Zhou / Zhuhai Daily]