Taizhou in East China's Zhejiang province witnessed a strong rebound in tourist arrivals during the Spring Festival holiday, as pent-up demand was unleashed after China optimized its COVID response measures.

Official data revealed by the Taizhou bureau of culture and tourism shows the city's A-level scenic spots received over 5.35 million visitors during the seven-day holiday, with tourism revenue reaching 87.88 million yuan ($12.95 million), a year-on-year increase of 161.61 percent and 180.17 percent, respectively.

Taizhou Fucheng Cultural Tourism Area, a national 5A scenic spot, welcomed more than 500,000 visitors per day from Jan 22 to 25, three times the figure during the Spring Festival holiday in 2019.

Tourist attractions such as Shenxianju Scenic Spot, Tiantai Mountain Scenic Spot and rural tourism routes were also popular among tourists, with a courtyard in Taizhou's Huangyan district receiving over 5,000 tourists a day. 

One of the key reasons behind the boost in the city's tourism market is a series of favorable policies rolled out by the local authorities, including 74 scenic spots offering free entry to tourists from across the country and migrant workers who stay put from Jan 21 to the end of February.

In addition, authorities have issued e-coupons worth 5 million yuan to stimulate consumption in the culture and tourism sector during the holiday.