City gives greenlight for intra-city group tours

Shanghai's cultural and tourism authorities will allow group tours within the same city, while the ban will remain on cross-province or cross-city tours.

Inbound and outbound group tours are still suspended, the Shanghai Culture and Tourism Administration said. Air ticket plus hotel packages are also on the banned list.

Some local travel agencies have started putting spring outings such as flower appreciation, cycling and countryside tours on their shelves.

These include combined walking tours to the Changxing Island countryside park, Xinchang ancient town, Mingzhu Lake Park, Qingxi countryside park, Dongping National Forest Park and Nanhuizui Guanhai Park, an emerging destination for weekend getaways in coastal Lingang, the Pudong New Area.