China's Victory Day break a red-letter day for travel agencies
Travel firms offer trips to key war sites as media urge public to remember reason for the day off
Mainland travel agencies are offering "red tourism" packages for travellers during the newly announced first Victory Day holiday, but state media have urged the public not to forget the serious nature of the occasion.
September 3 will be a one-off national holiday marking the 70th anniversary of Japan's surrender, which brought an end to the second world war.
The holiday, announced on Wednesday, was a happy surprise for many people, who were quick to voice their enthusiasm on social media.
The day will fall on a Thursday, but according to the official holiday plans Friday will be regarded as a holiday, too, so workers will be able to have a three-day break before going back to work on Sunday.
People have already started to plan their holiday itineraries, with travel agencies quick to respond to the extra day off at a time that is traditionally during tourism's off-season.
Those cities include Nanjing , the scene of the Nanking Massacre in 1937 - during which China says Japanese troops killed 300,000 people in its then capital - and Taierzhuang in Shandong , the scene of the first Chinese victory of the war.
China International Travel Service (CITS) said it was developing package tours, which could be booked from late June. "The theme is red tourism inside China," Han Chao, a CITS employee told the . "For example, we are looking at red tourist destinations around Beijing, such as Baoding ."
Xinhua published a commentary on its social media account on Wednesday night, reminding people that the holiday was meant as a commemoration.
It said the reason for the Victory Day holiday was very different from traditional national holidays, such as Lunar New Year and the Mid-Autumn Festival.
"We need to value this kind of benefit," it said.
"Victory Day … is a reminder to people not to forget that chapter of history and the origin of the holiday."
