A concert is held at Crescent Moon Spring scenic area in Jiuquan, Gansu province, during the May Day holiday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Jiuquan in Gansu province recorded a strong rise in tourism during the May Day holiday from May 1 to 5.

During the period, the city hosted 2.65 million visitors, an 18.6 percent increase compared to last year. Tourism revenue hit 1.86 billion yuan ($257 million), up 14 percent year-on-year.

Hotspots like the Mogao Caves and Crescent Moon Spring were prepared beforehand, training staff and adding accessible facilities. The city's themed routes — eco-health, cultural discovery, and family learning — kept drawing crowds, especially at night.

A standout event was a nighttime concert at Crescent Moon Spring on May 4, drawing 48,000 people — the scenic area's highest single-day attendance ever.

Managing the departure of those attendees without incident took careful coordination. Tourism officials activated an emergency plan, adding bus routes and extending service hours to ensure orderly dispersal after the night event.