Nanluoguxiang, a well-known and popular ancient hutong in Beijing lined with shops, restaurants and bars, was packed with visitors during the May Day holiday despite a recent ban on tour groups in the area.

On Saturday, more than 70,000 visitors flocked to the 787-meter-long, 8-meter-wide alley that has eight narrower and symmetrical alleys on either side, while more than 90,000 visited on Sunday - similar figures to the same period last year.

Urban patrol officers were sent to entrances to the alleys to ensure the implementation of the new regulation and to direct the crowds, China News Service reported.

The officers initially suggested that tour groups change their plans to visit the 740-year-old alley, but when they insisted on arriving, they split them up into smaller groups and allowed them entry, Beijing Morning Post reported.

To ease congestion, the subway station at the south end of the alley was only used as an exit but not an entrance when the number of visitors surged.

Despite the huge numbers of people, the crowds flowed smoothly, and no complaints were received about security and service during the weekend, the authorities in Dongcheng District said.

According to the Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development, an average of more than 30,000 people visit Nanluoguxiang each weekday, with the number rising to 50,000 during weekends. On public holidays, it can reach 100,000.

The China National Tourism Administration said the alley is designed to cope with a maximum of 17,000 people at any one time.

The district authorities decided to introduce the ban on large tour groups last month to reduce the impact of tourists' on local residents and the potential risk posed to historic buildings. The ban took effect on April 25.

Nanluoguxiang's governing body also took the initiative to remove its rating as a National AAA Grade scenic area in the hope of reducing the influx.

Contact the writer at tangyue@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 05/03/2016 page3)