When 1.4 billion people go on holiday at the same time, it’s no surprising that scenic spots would get a little bit more crowded.
A theme park in Henan, central China, was one of the busiest tourist attractions in China as the world’s most populous country celebrated their National Day holiday last week, according to media.
Thousands of camera-ready tourists flocked to the Millennium City Park daily to enjoy the re-constructed scenery inspired by the romantically remembered Song Dynasty (960-1279).
Packed like sardines: Chinese tourists stand on a bridge at the Millennium City Park on October 5 to watch a performance
Room for one more? The theme park in Henan, China, was one of the busiest attractions during the National Day holiday
Located in Kaifeng, the ancient capital of the Song Dynasty, the 10-acre theme park was so popular visitors barely had room to move around, reported People’s Daily Online.
Awe-inspiring pictures show hundreds of travellers squeezing themselves onto a stone bridge in the park in order to watch a performance on October 5.
The park, opened in 1998, was built to intimate the scenes from painting Along the River During the Qingming Festival.
As one of the most famous artistic masterpieces in China, the impressive painting captured the prosperous streets of Kaifeng during the city’s heyday between the 11th and 12th century.
The artwork, measuring a whopping 5.25 metres long (17 feet), was drawn by Song Dynasty artist Zhang Zeduan.
As the painting remains one of the most revered artistic treasures in China, any modern-day attractions related to it would draw a large number of tourists, who want to admire China’s glorious past.
Popular spot: The park, opened in 1998, was built to intimate the scenes from one of China’s most famous ancient paintings
Holiday rush: A large number of tourists visited the theme park, inspired by Song Dynasty, to admire China’s glorious past
A ‘relaxing’ holiday in China: Tourists chill next to a canal in the Millennium City Park in the ancient capital of Kaifeng
Apparently, overcrowding occurred across China, not just in Kaifeng
People’s Daily Online reported that the Chinese citizens made a record-high number of trips during the National Day holiday, also known as ‘the Golden Week’.
A total of 705 million trips were recorded in China during the eight-day break, according to the China National Tourism Administration.
The figure nearly doubled the number of trips Chinese citizens made during the same holiday five years ago.
The holiday was also said to generate about 590 billion yuan (£67 billion) in tourism income. That’s around 450 yuan (£51.6) from every Chinese person.
A few factors were said to have contributed to the increase, including the popularisation of high-speed trains and the newly launched free-of-charge policy on motorways.
Due to the timing of the Mid-autumn Festival, this year’s National Day holiday had eight days, instead of the traditional seven days. This was also considered to be a reason why more trips have been made.
A record-breaking 705 million trips were made in China last week, according to the China National Tourism Administration
Chinese passengers queue up to check-in at the Suzhou Railway Station ahead of the National Day and the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday in Suzhou city, east China’s Jiangsu province, 30 September 2017
The popularisation of high-speed trains and the newly launched free-of-charge policy on motorways drove the holiday travels