International visitors check out Puyuan ancient town. [Photo/Tide News]

Tongxiang county in Jiaxing, East China's Zhejiang province, welcomed a fresh wave of international visitors on June 4, reflecting its charm as a rising destination for tourism.

Nearly 90 travel agencies from 19 countries and regions across the US, Asia, and Europe arrived at Puyuan ancient town in Tongxiang to attend a global tour operations conference.

Wandering through ancient stone bridges and narrow alleys, Anna Carina from Denmark was captivated by the area's cultural depth — describing the water town's scenery and classical performances as "amazing".

Ruvini from Sri Lanka praised Tongxiang's serene, heritage-rich atmosphere, and convenient location near Shanghai — calling it a unique alternative to China's major cities.

Delegates immersed themselves in local culture — watching elegant traditional dances, enjoying storytelling in the local dialect, and sampling treats like freshly made crabapple cakes.

During the conference, displays of silk crafts, tea ceremonies, and cultural souvenirs vividly presented the city's rich tourism offerings.

Tongxiang is seeing remarkable growth in international travelers. From January to April, Wuzhen ancient town and Puyuan ancient town received 115,000 foreign tourist trips — up 110 percent year-on-year. During the May Day holiday alone, overseas visitors soared by 366 percent.

As the only pilot city in Jiaxing for Innovation in foreign tourism, Tongxiang is actively executing a strategic plan. Looking ahead, the city aims to further elevate Wuzhen ancient town and Puyuan ancient town's global reputation.