(Yicai) Feb. 6 -- About 3.4 million tourists entered China during the Chinese New Year holiday, a 6 percent increase from a year ago, according to the culture and tourism ministry.

Most inbound tourists came from South Korea, followed by Japan and the United Kingdom, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced yesterday, following the eight-day public holiday celebrating the lunar new year that ended on Feb. 4.

The top 10 countries of origin, which accounted for almost two-thirds of all overseas tourists, also included the United States, Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, Russia, Thailand, and the Philippines.

Short-haul bookings from countries such as Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand more than doubled, while the number of long-haul visitors from France, Spain, Italy, Canada, Australia, and other countries surged by nearly 120 percent.

Foreigners primarily visited the first-tier cities of Shenzhen, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Beijing, followed by Zhuhai, Chengdu, Zhongshan, Harbin, Foshan, and Chongqing.

Many were also drawn to destinations with Chinese New Year traditions considered part of the country’s intangible cultural heritage. Trips to Xi'an, known for the Terracotta Army, almost doubled, while bookings to Fuzhou in Fujian province, home to the mountaintop Yushan Scenic Area, surged 52 percent, and visits to Hebei province's capital of Shijiazhuang increased by half.

Travel patterns are evolving too. An ever-growing number of foreign visitors prefer small travel groups over large tours as well as creating their own itineraries. And besides visiting major cities, they are also showing more interest in rural destinations.

Staff at Fuzhou Changle International Airport give an American tourist a decorative fan and a festive red paper decoration featuring the Chinese character ‘福,’ which means ‘fortune’ or ‘blessing.’

Two visitors take a selfie at Tiananmen Square in Beijing.

A tourist takes a selfie at Yuyuan Garden in Shanghai.

Two Italians take a selfie in front of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing.

Tourists wearing traditional Chinese ‘Hanfu’ clothing pose for a group photo in front of the Long Rainbow Gate in Wuhu, Anhui province.

Editor: Emmi Laine