Visitors enjoy Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake in Dunhuang. [Photo/IC]

Jiuquan city in Northwest China's Gansu province saw a vibrant surge in cultural tourism during the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, receiving around 4.42 million visits, a year-on-year increase of 20.45 percent, with tourism spending reaching 3.61 billion yuan ($506.48 million), up 21.54 percent from the same period last year.

More than 60 cultural and tourism events, including a Mid-Autumn Festival-themed event, were held across the city, offering a rich and engaging holiday experience and attracting many residents and visitors.

Newly built cultural spaces offered new ways to showcase and preserve cultural heritage, with facilities like the Jiuquan Silk Road Cultural Research Center beginning their operations just before the holiday.

Performances including See Dunhuang Again and Music Moves Dunhuang increased their show frequencies to accommodate rising visitor demand, attracting a total of 28,910 visits during the holiday period.

To ensure smooth travel, the city added new flights to major destinations, including Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen. On Oct 5, Dunhuang Mogao International Airport set a new record by handling 8,425 passengers in a single day — the highest since opening 43 years ago.