Travel fervor rises among Shanghai residents as summer vacation nears

• Published date: 28 June 2022
• Publication title: Shanghai Daily

Chen Liyang, a Shanghai university student, promptly grabbed an air ticket for Sanya after learning that the resort city in the southern island province of Hainan had eased COVID-19 quarantine rules for travelers from Shanghai.

"It has been too long since I made any trip outside Shanghai, back in February, and no matter where, I will not hesitate flying there," said Chen, a travel buff.

She traveled at least twice every year before the COVID-19 pandemic resurgence disrupted all her travel plans.

"I had been to Sanya many years ago, and still remember the enchanting beach scenery and mouthwatering seafood there," Chen recalled. "Although it is not my top destination, it's still an alluring option for me, particularly after such a long lockdown."

Having bought some hotel coupons during the COVID-19 lockdown, she used them to book accommodation in Sanya. The departure date is July 5.

"I will not make any travel plans, just want to daydream there and enjoy the fun of travel itself with my friends," Chen observed.

Based on the latest policy update by Sanya authorities, only travelers from Shanghai's Jing'an, Putuo, Minhang, Baoshan and Fengxian needs quarantine. Travelers from elsewhere in Shanghai only need to take a PCR test upon arrival in Sanya and show their green health QR code at the same time.

Chen's travel fervor also signals that a sign of long-awaited light is breaking over Shanghai's bruised tourism industry.

Travel agencies in the eastern metropolis are re-launching a few inter-provincial group tour products as several domestic tourist destinations, including Sanya, ease COVID-19 quarantine rules for travelers from Shanghai.

Market competition is gradually heating up as residents' repressed travel enthusiasm is ignited.

Shanghai Spring Tour announced that it is scheduled to organize a group tour to Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in northwest China's Gansu Province on July 1.

The six-day tour will include the most famous attractions in Gannan, such as the Labrang Monastery, one of the largest temples of the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism, and Sangke Grassland.

Overnight after the product hit the shelf, figuratively speaking, there were no seats available for the group tour.

The agency then launched another seven-day group tour with a similar route targeting shutterbugs scheduled for July 4; it was fully reserved within hours.

The period between June and September is the best travel season for Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture due to its mild temperatures...