Shaanxi province received approximately 12 million visitors during the three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday from June 20 to 22. The number of visitors represents a rise of 16.53 percent compared to the previous year, according to xinhuanet.com.

Tourism revenue exceeded 4.8 billion yuan ($773.30 million) during the period, an increase of 19.12 percent compared to the year earlier.

The Dragon Boat Festival, known as Duanwu, is celebrated annually on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar. The festival fell on June 20 this year. It holds the tradition of drinking wine, holding dragon boat races and eating zongzi – a pyramid-shaped dumpling made of glutinous rice and wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves.

To give people a taste of traditional customs, Xi’an, the capital city of Shaanxi province, held a dragon boat race at Chang’an Wharf. More than 400 competitors were divided into 20 teams, and displayed their strength and talent at the event.

The 4th Poetry of Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) Festival was held at Xi’an’s Expo Park during the festival, allowing visitors to wear traditional costumes and review classical poems.