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 and picturesque scenery.

Travelers from Shanghai’s low-risk subdistricts or towns can move and travel freely in the autonomous prefecture based on local COVID-19 quarantine policies.

Shanghai Spring Tour said it requires tourists applying for the group tour to provide negative nucleic acid test results within 48 hours before taking flights.

“Travel agencies have been ordered to strictly follow COVID-19 pandemic prevention requirements, from the design of tour products and review of tourists’ health status to pandemic control measures during tours and handling of emergencies,” Zhou Weihong, deputy general manager of the travel agency, explained.

“We expect the inter-provincial tourism market to accelerate its recovery during the upcoming summer vacation, which will help relieve the pressure on tourism operators,” she said.

On Trip.com, a number of group tour products departing from Shanghai to Sanya could be found. The tour packages combine accommodation and transportation and target FIT (free and independent) travelers in Shanghai.

Shanghai, Sanya, Guangzhou, Beijing, Urumqi, Nanjing, Hangzhou and Shenzhen are among the top 10 destinations based on the sales of air tickets for the upcoming summer vacation, according to Trip.com.

A robust tourism market recovery is predicted.

“Market confidence is up thanks to the waning pandemic situation in domestic cities,” noted Fang Zeqian, a tourism analyst. “The willingness to travel among the young generation and families with children is particularly high as summer vacation approaches.”

Sales of admission tickets to domestic tourist attractions soared 44 percent in the first half of this month compared with the same period of May, and the growth was 31 percent for air tickets, according to Tongcheng-eLong, another major online travel operator in China.

It predicts that the number of summer travelers will rebound to over 70 percent of that of 2019, with museums, camping sites, and water amusement parks among some of the most popular options.

Where to go for summer vacation

As tourism restrictions are gradually eased, many places are now welcoming people from low-risk areas of Shanghai.

The Shanghai government said on Wednesday morning that currently there are eight medium-risks areas in Shanghai spread across Jing’an, Putuo, Minhang, Baoshan and Fengxian districts.

With summer vacation nearing, Shanghai Daily offers a guide on some of the destinations which don’t require quarantine for all. But please check with local subdistricts, health authorities and hotels before you go as policies keep changing.

1) Gannan, Gansu

Gansu was the first province in China to lift the tourism restriction on low-risk areas, and its Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture was the first to welcome people from Shanghai.

Gannan is listed by “Chinese National Geography” as one of the 50 places to visit in one’s lifetime for its stunning plateau views and rich Tibetan culture. The period between June and September is the best travel season.

People from low-risks areas in Shanghai are now allowed to move freely in Gannan. But they need to have negative nucleic acid test results within 48 hours on arrival. Upon arrival, they need to take a new PCR test, and another test after 24 hours.

2) Sanya, Hainan

Resort paradise Sanya in Hainan is one of the most popular vacation destinations for Shanghai residents.

It asks people from medium-risk areas in Shanghai to receive seven-day home quarantine. If conditions are not met, they will undergo central quarantine. Over the period, they will receive three nucleic acid tests.

Other parts of districts with medium-risk areas are identified as low-risk areas. People from such areas in Shanghai need to receive three-day home quarantine.

They are required to have negative PCR test results within 48 hours on arrival, and receive another test on the third day. For babies under the age of three, they can use their guardians’ reports if they don’t have one.

For people from other districts in Shanghai, a negative nucleic acid test is not mandatory. They just need to show their green health QR code and travel code, and take a temperature check and a nucleic acid test upon arrival. They can move freely after they take the PCR test.

3) Chengdu, Sichuan

Known as the home of the giant panda and hotpot, Sichuan Province is one of the most popular and attractive destinations for travelers from around the world, with its capital Chengdu a must-see city.

People from medium-risk areas are required to receive seven-day home quarantine, and people from low-risk areas need to take two nucleic acid tests in three days.

For the rest, a negative nucleic acid test is not mandatory. But they need to show their green health QR code and travel code upon arrival. And they will receive a phone message informing them on what to do next.

4) Zhejiang

Neighboring Zhejiang Province has specified that not everyone from Shanghai needs to undergo quarantine.

Basically, the province requires people from medium-risk areas to undergo seven-day central quarantine and seven-day home quarantine. People from subdistricts or towns with medium-risk areas are required to receive three-day home quarantine.

Travelers from remaining parts of Shanghai have no need for quarantine.

However, specific policies vary in different places in Zhejiang.

Its capital Hangzhou requires passengers to receive negative nucleic acid test result within 72 hours upon arrival at the airport; and receive an antigen self-test and a nucleic acid test upon arrival at the railway station.

Ningbo’s airport requires negative nucleic acid test result within 48 hours. Visitors to Zhoushan have to take two nucleic acid tests in three days, with an interval of 24 hours. Wenzhou requires people out of Zhejiang to receive a PCR test if they don’t have a negative result within 48 hours upon arrival.