BEIJING -- China is witnessing a travel boom during this year's five-day May Day holiday, the first such holiday since the country optimized its COVID-19 response measures.

Domestic travel bookings for the holiday, which starts on April 29 this year, have surged more than 700 percent from last year, the latest data from online travel agency Trip.com Group shows.

Below are seven Chinese cities that are among the top holiday travel choices for tourists. Apart from first-tier cities, such as Beijing and Shanghai, smaller ones like Zibo of Shandong province are gaining prominence due to their various attractions.