The Qingdao landing stage is an ideal tourism hotspot to take in during the upcoming holiday. [Photo/WeChat account: qdweishinan]

To curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic during the upcoming holidays, China has issued a plan to reduce mass gatherings and strengthen its epidemic controls, with a range of measures and guidance that includes advocating off-peak travel and encouraging people to stay put during the break.

In response to the national initiative, the Shinan district of Qingdao city in East China's Shandong province is providing some great tourist and recreation deals for those who choose to remain during the Spring Festival holiday.

From Feb 11 to Feb 17, employees from local enterprises can get free tickets to visit places of interest such as the Laoshan scenic spot, Xiaoqingdao Island and the Xiaoyushan block.

Free trips to local museums, cultural sites and libraries are also available. Visits should be registered in advance and be well-organized, to reduce the flow of people.