Changsha county enjoyed its most golden National Day holiday of all time in 2016, with record numbers of visitors spending twice as much as ever before during the week-long holiday, according to the county's commerce bureau.

A total of 1.43 million people visited tourist attractions in the Hunan province county during the holiday, spending 543 million yuan ($81.3 million), according to the commerce bureau, up 36 percent and 118 percent respectively year on year.

The county's focus on promoting experience activities to grow rural tourism appears to have paid dividends. Attractions in Changsha county have been able to increase their incomes because tourists are willing to spend more money on dining and new experiences during their holidays.

A foreign teacher takes his Chinese students to play games in Jiangbei town, Changsha county, during Golden Week. [Photo/csxrmt.com]

Bancang Campsite in Kaihui town enjoyed huge success thanks to organizing creative events such as a paragliding challenge, which kicked off its Golden Week celebrations, as well as barbecues and bonfire parties. The campsite made more than 400,000 yuan during the holiday.

Sanzhen Tiger Zoo also reaped rewards by offering tourists the opportunity to feed its white tigers and South China tigers and meet its baby tigers. The zoo received 14,000 visitors during the week and earned more than 560,000 yuan in ticket sales.

Other businesses in Changsha county also raised more income than expected during Golden Week.

Enterprises in the retail sector raked in about 870 million yuan from Oct 1 to Oct 7, data from the commerce bureau showed.

Huanghua International Airport in Changsha county saw traffic of 40,213 passengers, up 10.81 percent year on year, during the holiday.