Shenxianju, a national 5A scenic spot in Taizhou. [Photo/WeChat account: tzwhly] 

A homestay run by Chen Yongfa in Hou'an village, Jietou town, Tiantai county received its first visitors over the weekend since the epidemic began.

The village has more than 80 homestays with more than 2,000 beds, according to Lin Xiaojing, general manager of Zhejiang Hanshan Tourism Development Co Ltd, who developed the city's homestays. 

Over the past weekend, nearly half of all homestays in the village reopened, with safety measures put in place to ensure the health of all visitors, said Lin.

Between 3,000 to 4,000 visitors checked in each day, filling the homestays to 30 to 40 percent capacity. All homestays are expected to reopen within the week, she added.

Chen Lingjiang, who operates a homestay in Liliang village in Tiantai, also saw a spike in the number of guests. 

"All the rooms are full. Most of the guests are regular customers from surrounding areas who come for the cherry blossoms and fresh air." 

Huang Manfang, general secretary of the Shitang peninsula homestay alliance in Wenling, said that all homestays in the town have reopened to visitors, but business is not as good as before.

"We aren't too worried, as safety and health are the most important things now," she said. 

Visitors are required to have their temperature taken, show their green health codes and register their personal information while checking in.

At a homestay managed by Huang, half of the rooms were occupied over the past weekend. The homestay offers catering services since most restaurants nearby have not yet resumed operations. 

The homestay sector is a microcosm of the tourism industry in Taizhou, and it is beginning to recover as the COVID-2019 epidemic has started to wane. 

Multiple scenic spots in Taizhou have reopened to the public.

Shenxianju in Xianju county, a national 5A scenic spot–China's top classification for tourist destinations–announced on March 24 that all visitors are exempt from entrance fees until the end of April. 

Visitors to the scenic area will also be entitled to discounts on accommodation and catering.

Shenxianju, literally meaning "dwelling of immortals", is known for its intact ecosystem and unique geology.