Yantai experienced a boost in tourism during the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday from Sept 13-15, in part due to a series of cultural activities organized by the city.

Official data show that a total of 22 scenic spots in Yantai received 222,300 tourists, up 14.86 percent from the previous year, and brought in revenue of 21.72 million yuan ($3.06 million), up 16.87 percent year-on year.

More than 200 holiday activities focusing on folk customs and traditions were held during the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday. Yantai Museum organized some truly irresistible activities designed to lure small children, offering them the chance to make their very own mooncakes, read China's classic novels, and feast their eyes on some spectacular oil paintings.

Practitioners of intangible cultural heritages in the city hosted more than 60 courses on paper-cutting, Changdao fishermen's songs and Haiyang yangko dance, among other exciting things.

The first Yantai Citizens Cultural Festival is still underway, featuring a wide range of distinctive local cultural performances which have served to add an invigorating festive atmosphere to the already lively proceedings.

Rural tourism also proved popular over the holiday, with one and two-day tours featuring fruit picking, hot springs and mountain climbing taking place in the area. Chateau Changyu Castle offered local residents a grape activity for the ages. Visitors had the chance to sample more than 20 varieties of grapes and enjoy interactive grape-themed activities.

The Mid-Autumn Festival, the 15th day of?the eighth month?on the Chinese lunar calendar, fell on Friday this year, and is traditionally a time for family gatherings in China. During the festival, people usually eat moon cakes, admire the full moon and celebrate the harvest.

Yantai experiences a boost in cultural tourism during the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday from Sept 13-15. [Photo/WeChat Account:ytwlgw]

Visitors learn paper-cutting, a traditional Chinese handcraft, during the Mid-Autumn Festival. [Photo/WeChat Account:ytwlgw]

More than 200 festive activities focusing on folk customs and traditions?are held during the Mid-Autumn Festival. [Photo/WeChat Account:ytwlgw]