The first anniversary celebration of the Hangzhou-Wenzhou High-speed Railway takes place on the G8962 train on Sept 6. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The Hangzhou-Wenzhou High-speed Railway celebrated its first anniversary on Sept 6, following a year of operation marked by a surge in ridership and a boost to cultural and tourism economies along its route.

Stretching 276 kilometers and capable of 350 km per hour, this crucial corridor between Hangzhou and Wenzhou has transported over 16 million passengers, with daily traffic averaging over 44,000.

At Tongludong Railway Station, the starting point in Hangzhou's Tonglu county, daily passenger departures have risen from 300 to over 2,000, according to Station Agent Wu Pengfei.

Local attractions have experienced a significant increase in tourism. He Wenjia, deputy general manager of the Tonglu Cultural Tourism Investment Group, said that the number of visitors to Daqi Mountain and Tongjun Mountain has risen by 57 percent and 30 percent, respectively.

To capitalize on this, Tonglu has launched dedicated shuttle buses connecting the railway station to attractions and hotels and distributed discount packages for visitors.

At Hengdian Railway Station, near China's largest film base — Hengdian World Studios in Jinhua, foot traffic has doubled since the railway's launch, with daily riders peaking at over 5,500 during the recent summer holiday, according to Station Agent Ling Xu.

Seizing the opportunity, Hengdian World Studios has introduced immersive experiences where visitors can interact with characters or even become part of the storylines.

Visitors interact with a character in Hengdian World Studios. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

International visits have also increased, soaring by 53 percent in the first half. "We are pursuing partnerships with global travel agencies and creating film-themed itineraries for overseas tourists," said He Hongyan, the brand assistant director of Zhejiang Hengdian World Studios Co.

Xianju county in Taizhou has also benefited from the railway. Just about 18 minutes by car from the Xianju Railway Station, the Shenxianju scenic area has seen a 20 percent increase in tourists since the railway opened. It has introduced services featuring mixed reality experiences and mountain-climbing robots to enhance visitors' experiences.

Yongjia county in Wenzhou has also gained from the railway, with two stations, including the Nanxijiang Railway Station located within the Nanxijiang scenic area. During the May Day holiday, the scenic area received 618,000 visits, with its average daily footfall ranking second in Zhejiang and first in Wenzhou. The number of tourists from Hangzhou increased by 128.26 percent.

As He Wenjia from the Tonglu Cultural Tourism Investment Group said, "The railway isn't merely a traffic line but a road to common prosperity," transforming the landscapes along the route to wealth.