Self- driving tourists exploring east coastal city, Qinghai's Salt Lake

The family- friendly vacation spots in an eastern coastal city and the northwestern natural salt lake have become popular travel destinations for many Chinese who spend their eight- day National Day holiday behind the wheels.

On Sunday, a group of more than 100 tourists in 50 cars were driving on a scenic mountain highway along the coastline in Weihai, east China's Shangdong Province, to explore nearby beaches and islands.

The city is surrounded by the Yellow Sea and famous for various of ocean- themed activities such as boat tours, beach buggy rides, and seafood cuisines.

At least 70 percent of tourists visited four local sightseeing spots including islands, mountains, oceans, and hot springs by driving between October 1- 4.

In the northwestern province of Qinghai, the tourism hotspot of Chaka Salt Lake has attracted 100,000 visitors, many by driving in the first four days of the holiday, which surpassed last year's record.

The lake was given the name as "Mirror of the Sky" as the blue sky is reflected on the surface of the crystallized saline water, creating a view of nature beauty.