Yizhou receives 240,000 visitors during Spring Festival

Tourists are invited to join in the bamboo pole dance in Yizhou. [Photo by Qian Cheng/hcwang.cn]

Yizhou district in Hechi, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region welcomed 247,700 visitors during the week-long Chinese New Year holiday, a year-on-year increase of 22.94 percent, local authorities announced.

The local tourism sector earned approximately 100.24 million yuan ($15.9 million), up 33.05 percent from last year.

Various activities featuring Zhuang ethnic customs and traditions, such as temple fairs, folk song festivals, art performances and traditional ethnic games, enlivened the proceedings and captivated visitors.

Flower enthusiasts scrambled for photos of the vibrant tulip and rape flower fields.

Visitors sing antiphonal songs with local Zhuang people before entering Liu Sanjie village. [Photo by Qian Cheng/hcwang.cn]

Tourists also had the chance to join in the fun with Zhuang antiphonal songs and bamboo pole dances at the hometown of Liu Sanjie, a legendary Guangxi folk singer born during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907).

Folk songs are one of the most important ways of communicating among Zhuang people, and they have permeated every aspect of life. They are used at work, when greeting friends and family, entertaining guests, and expressing affection.

Visitors take part in a temple fair while wearing traditional Zhuang apparel. [Photo by Qian Cheng/hcwang.cn]