Long queues at tourist attractions after half-price discount
Visitors wait to enter Shanghai Ocean Aquarium in Shanghai on May 19, 2018.
Visitors wait to enter Shanghai Ocean Aquarium in Shanghai on May 19, 2018.
Rain failed to dampen the interest of tourists as some scenic spots in Shanghai witnessed big crowds on Saturday after a half-price entry was offered to mark the China Tourism Day.
Winding long queues spread over the queuing area outside the Shanghai Ocean Aquarium in Pudong New Area on Saturday morning, with an average waiting time of around 30 minutes.
"The earliest (tourist) arrived at 8am, and the number of visitors was much more than normal Saturday," said a security guard surnamed Shen patrolling in Lujiazui area.
The opening hour of the aquarium is 9am.
"It is my second visit and I have queued 25 minutes," said Lu Jia, a university student. "Last time, I just waited for a while although it was also weekend."
"I came here today because of the discount, as the normal ticket, 160 yuan (US$25), is very expensive," she said. "Eighty yuan is reasonable after the discount offer."
The original price is 160 yuan per adult, and 110 yuan per child.
Shi Weiteng visited the aquarium with his wife and daughter. Living in Minhang District, the family said they would visit the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum in the afternoon to catch the discount.
"The admission of most tourist attractions in China is far too expensive," he said. "Today, we three can save more than 200 yuan just for one attraction because of the special offer."
People wait outside the Oriental Pearl TV Tower in Shanghai on May 19, 2018.
The Lujiazui area in Pudong is among the most popular for tourists to Shanghai for gathering a number of landmark attractions including Shanghai Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Shanghai Tower, Shanghai Jinmao Tower, Shanghai World Financial Center, and the aquarium.
Shanghai Oriental Pearl TV Tower, which is just steps from the aquarium, has received 12,000 tourists as of 4pm, more than normal Saturday, its operator said.
In total, 65 tourist spots in the city offered half-price discounted tickets on Saturday, including some popular and landmark ones such as the 88th-floor sightseeing observatory at Shanghai Jinmao Tower, Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, Shanghai Tower and Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum.
The half-price discount is also offered at major tourist attractions in the city for a week during the annual Shanghai Tourism Festival in September.
