Countryside road excursions became popular during the five-day May Day holiday, which concluded Wednesday, as the Chinese capital city tightened restrictions against COVID-19 to prevent cross-infection.

Beijingers’ holiday travel options include visiting urban parks, cycling, camping, and touring countryside scenic sites and rural bed and breakfasts (B&B), with the three suburb districts of Yanqing, Pinggu, and Miyun ranking among the top three destinations, according to the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism on Thursday.

During the holiday, the city had 3 million visitors, with total tourism earnings exceeding 1.58 billion yuan (about 238.9 million US dollars).

The anti-virus measures put in place will be maintained after the holiday, which means that performance venues and other entertainment sites, internet cafes, and indoor sports venues will remain closed, while indoor scenic spots and libraries, cultural centres, art galleries, and other public cultural venues will remain closed. The number of visitors to parks and outdoor picturesque areas will be limited to 50% of their capacity.

Hundreds of events and thousands of performances at cultural sites were cancelled in Beijing during the vacation.

Some internet sites, however, continued to stream concerts and performances, such as a concert from the National Centre for the Performing Arts, relic displays at the National Museum, and artworks acquired by the Art Museum of the China National Academy of Painting.

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