As the fragrant Dragon Boat Festival coincided with the joy of International Children's Day, visitors from across the country flocked to Laoshan Mountain, where mountains meet the sea. Over the three-day holiday, the Laoshan Scenic Area infused traditional Chinese culture into a variety of festive events and themed experiences, crafting a joyful celebration that appealed to both children and adults. While enjoying the area's stunning natural scenery, guests were also immersed in the unique charm of China's No. 1 Coastal Mountain. The scenic area received approximately 128,800 visitors in total, marking a 9.4% year-on-year increase.
Where mountains mirror the sea, culture shines across the ages. Long celebrated for its breathtaking landscapes and rich cultural heritage, the Laoshan Scenic Area has remained a magnet for visitors, with elements of intangible cultural heritage emerging as a major draw to drive attention and engagement behind the area's popularity in this holiday season. Each section of the park thoughtfully wove traditional Chinese culture into the festive atmosphere, offering visitors immersive cultural tourism experiences steeped in heritage and charm.
With nimble hands to transform sugary syrup into shapes of birds and beasts and colored paper cutting to craft elaborate patterns, scenes, or symbols at the Laoshan Folk Culture Showcase in the Laoshan (Dahedong) Visitor Center, tourists were presented with local specialties like Dalao cherry wine and Wanggezhuang steamed buns and the display of traditional Chinese crafts such as sugar painting, paper cutting, and clay sculpture by members of intangible Chinese cultural heritage. Visitors lingered to taste, browse, and immerse themselves in the enduring charm of traditional Chinese culture.
At the cable car summit platform in the Jufeng Scenic Area, a dedicated "Guochao" (national trend) experience zone drew crowds with traditional activities like pitch-pot, DIY sachet making, and a lucky spin wheel. In the Taiqing Scenic Area, a themed event—Weaving Five-Colored Cords, Making Friends through Pitch-Pot, and Wishing for Wellness—invited enthusiastic participation in Dragon Boat Festival traditions. The Huayan Scenic Area hosted a showcase of Wanggezhuang's flower-shaped steamed buns in its customer service hall, while also offering traditional games that let visitors experience the cultural essence of the festival. Guests received zongzi and blessing ribbons as tokens. At the Exam Success Stone attraction, the scenic area also hosted a Dragon Boat Festival-themed blessing event where visitors tied decorative knots and offered prayers for academic success.
"The children are happy and we as adults can learn more about traditional culture—it’s truly meaningful," said a parent. Tourists of all ages eagerly joined local workers in making zongzi dumplings at the Jiushui Scenic Area’s transfer center outdoor workers’ rest station on May 31. This hands-on activity not only preserved the customs of the Dragon Boat Festival but also conveyed heartfelt holiday blessings to both workers and tourists alike.
Scenes of warmth and joy like these were woven throughout the entire Dragon Boat Festival holiday where this year's festival coincided with International Children's Day on June 1. To mark the occasion, Laoshan Scenic Area offered free admission to children aged 14 and under. By creatively blending traditional culture with playful, child-friendly experiences, the park sparked a surge in family tourism and brought renewed energy to the holiday travel market.
The Jiushui Scenic Area, for example, hosted a face-painting activity themed around traditional Chinese opera on International Children's Day, allowing children to enjoy the area's natural beauty while gaining a hands-on appreciation for the art form—sparking curiosity and love for traditional culture. At Yangkou Scenic Area's Taiping Palace Square, a fun Dumpling Fishing game invited participants to use fishing rods to catch as many zongzi dumplings as possible within one minute, with winners receiving cultural souvenirs from the park. The scenic area also featured martial arts performances by provincial-level members of intangible cultural heritage and the Laoshan Martial Arts Troupe throughout the holiday, bringing dynamic displays of tradition to life.
