Thousands of college students spent their May Day holidays in Pingtan this year, said the county government on its website recently.

In two separate interviews, more than 700 students chose group tours with two Pingtan-based travel agencies during the three-day holiday.

The glamour of a Pingtan tour mainly lies in its sunny weather, clean sea, soft beach and appetizing seafood, according to the students, who added that the tour was very affordable.

The students took to the Internet to consult economic tour plans and even sought strangers to explore Pingtan together.

A cycling association from the Fuzhou-based Fujian Normal University organized a cycling tour around Pingtan Island on April 29.

The tourism boom can be attributed to improved traffic conditions, especially the opening of Haixia Bridge in late 2010 that has helped popularize Pingtan's tourist resorts to the outside world.

Beach camping has also become a popular way to spend a day in Pingtan.

"You feel the wind from the sea, listen to the sound of waves. It is just awesome," said a student using the online moniker "Wubiandeshu2012".

The sizzling tourist market also caused a tour guide shortage. Many calls to local travel agencies went unanswered because of their overwhelming business.

"We are working our butts off because we are out of tour guides," said an employee with a travel agency. "Many staff workers have had to take the shifts."

Edited by Zhou Yuanyuan and Michael Thai