Chinese tourists start to return to Wuhan’s attractions as city tries to get back on its feet after coronavirus
- Some of the city’s best-known sites such as the Yellow Crane Tower saw larger than normal visitor numbers after entry fees were scrapped
- China has gradually eased restrictions on domestic tourism as it tries to shore up a vital sector of the economy
Tourists are finally returning to Wuhan’s main attractions months after the city became the centre of China’s Covid-19 outbreak.
The authorities said some of the most popular sights had attracted higher than normal numbers of visitors this weekend after entrance fees were scrapped at 400 attractions across Hubei province until the end of the year.
On Saturday more than 12,000 people visited the Yellow Crane Tower, more than three times the normal daily number, according to Changjiang Daily.
On Sunday the site reached its maximum daily capacity of 25,000 people and had to issue a message on social media asking people to stay away.
Mulan Great Lake, a scenic spot in the north of the city, saw a similar increase in numbers. “More than 3,000 tourists came on Saturday, and this was a three-fold increase when compared to the previous weekend,” said Zhu Xi, an officer at the lake.
Other sites in the city including Haichang Ocean Mark, Wuhan Garden Expo Park and Crepe Myrtle Garden also saw a boost in tourist numbers.