BEIJING, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Parks and zoos in Beijing marked an upsurge in visitors on Friday, China's traditional Tomb-sweeping day, thanks to many memorial activities and people swarming to catch a glimpse of the blooms.

The Beijing Municipal Administration Center of Parks said Saturday that 590,000 people visited the 11 municipal parks and the Museum of Chinese Garden and Landscape Architecture on Friday, a yearly increase of 136 percent.

Friday was the first day of the three-day holiday around the Tomb-sweeping Day, also known as the Qingming Festival.

The Summer Palace, Yuyuantan Park and Beijing Zoo were the most popular destinations in terms of visitor numbers on the day, according to the center.

The center said the ongoing flowering period has sparked enthusiasm among residents and tourists, contributing to the tourism boom. A number of parks are holding flower-themed festivals, including cherry blossom in Yuyuantan and peach blossom in Beijing Botanical Garden.