Datong city has received its first tourism boom since July 2012. Reservations are increasing rapidly and most hotels are turning to group discounts to attract more visitors and gain publicity.

Hotels in Datong are offering 15 or 30 percent discounts, or up to 57 percent discounts for online collective buying. Many five star hotels are also participating in the promotions, which have been planned since early May. "We may make less profit given the 57 percent discount, but we gain great publicity," a hotel staff worker said.

Hotels now are taking advantage of opportunities brought by the big tourism season and are offering more discounts. Visitors can now take advantage of group buying opportunities to enjoy a half price room at 200 yuan ($31.40), a free breakfast, or a several-dozen yuan off coupon.

"There are more guests in July than June, and the rising trend still goes on into August. Most visitors come with their family from cities nearby, so the family suite and the king size rooms are very popular," another hotel staff said.

Group buying, also known as collective buying or tuangou in Chinese pinyin, offers products and services at a significantly reduced price on the condition that a minimum number of buyers would make the purchase. It is used to get discount prices from retailers when a large group of people are willing to buy the same item.

By Li Xiaonan