About 2.55 million tourists visited scenic spots and tourist attractions in Shanghai during the Dragon Boat Festival holidays, the Labor Daily reported today.

This is about 4 percent more tourists that for the previous May Day holiday, and it is the first time the Dragon Boat Festival has proven more popular than the May Day holiday.

On May 28 alone 10,278 tourists traveled from the Shanghai Tour Bus Center, a 10.63 percent jump from last year. During the three-day holiday 26,355 tourists traveled from the center, the Director of Shanghai Tour Bus Center, Yao Weirong, said.

Short trips proved popular. Nanxun ancient town in Zhejiang Province and Zhouzhuang ancient town in Jiangsu Province topped the list while Oriental Land in Qingpu District was the most popular destination in the city.

China listed Dragon Boat Festival as a holiday last year while the May Day holiday was reduced from seven days to three days.

(Shanghai Daily May 31, 2009)