China's service sector bounces back as epidemic wanes

Bai Qingping, who runs a restaurant in Beijing, has been expanding his storefront to open space outside as more customers seek midnight snacks such as kebabs, crayfish and boiled peanuts these days.

"It is a completely different picture from months ago and there are even queues at peak hours," he added.

"Going out to shop and eat is only the first step and our family is planning a trip to Tibet for the upcoming holiday," Shi said, calling it "revenge spending" after being mostly cooped up at home for weeks during the epidemic outbreak.

The Potala Palace in southwest China's Tibet autonomous region reopened to the public on Wednesday after being closed for more than four months due to the epidemic. Guizhou, a Chinese province known for its landscape resorts and ethnic culture, will offer coupons worth 15 million yuan to boost consumption in the cultural and tourism sectors.

Driven by improving consumer sentiment and stimulation policies, China's service sector is gradually getting back on its feet.

The purchasing managers' index in the service sector saw steady recovery in May. Among the 21 service sectors surveyed, 15 saw expansion in their business activities. The transport, accommodation and catering sectors all increased from April.