Cultural tourism in Tai'an recorded strong growth during the Spring Festival holiday. From Feb 15 to 23, the city's 25 monitored scenic spots were visited more than 3.09 million times, marking a 19.18 percent year-on-year increase, while revenue rose 39.98 percent to over 100 million yuan ($14.51 million). Taishan Mountain remained the key driver, attracting 479,000 visitors, up 40 percent from the previous year.

To stimulate the holiday economy, Tai'an integrated transportation, commerce and agriculture into its tourism strategy. The launch of the Qilu No 1 tourism train, themed on cultural relics, opened a new corridor for cultural exploration, with Taishan Mountain station handling over 6,000 passengers in its first ten days. Meanwhile, Daimiao Temple Cultural Square and the newly upgraded Great Song All Day Mall combined traditional lantern fairs with immersive experiences and nighttime performances, emerging as popular attractions that boosted local consumption.

The city further enriched the festive atmosphere with 47 public events. Cultural venues staged Shandong Bangzi Opera performances, art exhibitions and archaeological showcases, while temple fairs and folk festivals invited people to experience the city's millennium-old history.

The celebrations also underscored Tai'an's commitment to cultural preservation. Masters of traditional arts such as shadow puppetry and woodcarving gathered at Daimiao Temple to offer interactive demonstrations. Extending its cultural presence beyond China, Tai'an's traditional lion dance performed in Belgrade, Serbia, bringing the city's culture to an international audience.

Performers in traditional costumes lead a vibrant fish lantern parade. [Photo/WeChat account: SDTXTA]