China: Lanzhou’s Yellow River scenic line draws crowds during National Day holiday.

A scenic spot by the Yellow River in Lanzhou City, northwest China's Gansu Province, has drawn large crowds during the seven-day National Day holiday, as its unique natural landscapes and intangible cultural heritage events fueled local tourism spending. The century-old Zhongshan Bridge, an iron bridge spanning the Yellow River, is one of the most popular spots along the Yellow River Scenic Line. Together with Baita Mountain on the north bank, the famous landmark forms a picturesque urban landscape. Willows sway along both banks as the Yellow River flows, drawing visitors who stop to admire the scenery and take photos. Recognized as a national-level intangible cultural heritage, Lanzhou Taiping Drum performances added to the festive atmosphere. Classic shows such as Qinqiang or Shaanxi Opera, Peking Opera, and Yuju Opera also took turns on stage. Residents and tourists packed the area in front of the stage, applauding and cheering. At the scenic area’s intangible cultural heritage exhibition zone, local traditional crafts -- including Lanzhou gourd carving, which involves etching patterns onto the curved surface of a small gourd with a carving knife -- caught the attention of residents and tourists alike. According to statistics, the Yellow River Scenic Line received 740,000 visits from Sept 30 to Oct 5, an increase of 19 percent year on year. Shotlist: Lanzhou City, Gansu Province, northwest China - Recent: 1. Various of Yellow River, bridge, boats, tourists; 2. Various of performance in progress; 3. Various of tourists enjoying tea; 4. Various of crowds; 5. Various of performance in progress, tourists watching; 6. Various of craftsmen creating traditional crafts; 7. Tourists on bridge, boat sailing. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]