Zhongshan Road Pedestrian Street in Xiamen's Siming district, lined with British-style buildings, is crowded with visitors during the seven-day Chinese New Year holiday. [Photo/ xmnn.cn]

Xiamen, a coastal city of Fujian province, welcomed more than 2.6 million visitors during the seven-day Chinese New Year holiday, a 16.14 percent increase year-on-year, Xiamen Daily reported on Feb 22, citing statistics from local tourism authorities.

The tourism industry of the city generated 2.92 billion yuan ($458 million) during the holiday, up 21.68 percent year-on-year, according to the Xiamen Tourism Development Committee, making Xiamen the third most popular tourist destination in China.

Daily expenses of each overnight visitor reached 2,637 yuan and the expenses of each one-day visitor totalled 524 yuan, both of which figures are higher than ever before.

Family and independent trips have become popular choices and Xiamen's health and leisure products are the visitors' preferences.

Yachting or sailing is the new fashion in the coastal city's tourist market.

More than 50 festival activities were organized during the vacation, such as the Spring Festival goods carnival in Haicang district, the coutryside food fair and culture fair in Tong'an district and the Fourth Light Festival and Xiangshan Mountain Temple Fair in Xiang'an district.