During the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, Zhongshan Bridge in Lanzhou is crowded with tourists. [Photo/lzbs.com.cn]

During the eight-day National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, Lanzhou emerged as one of China's most popular tourist destinations, receiving a total of 6.64 million visits and generating 4.01 billion yuan ($562.5 million) in tourism revenue, representing year-on-year increases of 10.9 percent and 12.95 percent, respectively. The city recorded over 800,000 daily visits for five consecutive days and exceeded 900,000 on three days, driven by diverse and culturally rich tourism offerings.

Attractions along the Yellow River were particularly popular, with Chengguan and Qilihe districts accounting for over 75 percent of total visits. The Jinchengguan scenic area attracted 912,800 visits through a unique tourism model featuring museum exhibitions, night tours on the Yellow River, and light outdoor activities, peaking at over 160,000 visits on Oct 4. Cruises, traditional raft rides, and light shows becoming major draws for overnight stays.

Museums remained highly popular. The Gansu Provincial Museum was fully booked daily, while the Gansu Bamboo Slip Museum and Lanzhou Museum also reported growing visitor numbers, making museum trips and cultural creative shopping a new holiday trend.

Iconic products such as Lanzhou beef noodles, Sanpaotai tea sets, and Yellow River-themed cultural products became must-buy souvenirs for tourists, highlighting the successful integration of local character into the tourism economy and boosting holiday consumption.