During the Dragon Boat Festival holiday from June 19 to 21, Huzhou in Zhejiang province received 2.62 million visits, up 4.9 percent year-on-year, generating tourism revenue of 3.2 billion yuan ($471.6 million), marking a year-on-year increase of 5.3 percent.

The city offered a variety of attractions, including traditional feasts at Xisai Mountain Tourist Resort, folk activities in Digang village, and bustling markets in Yucun village.

To capitalize on the coincidence of Dragon Boat Festival and graduation season, Huzhou introduced ticket discounts for students and hosted over 60 consumer promotion events.

Hotels and homestays further enhanced the festive experience with immersive activities. For example, Anji Junlan Laozhuang Mountain Resort in Anji county offered a Dragon Boat Festival-themed workshop where guests made zongzi and herbal sachets, achieving nearly full occupancy throughout the holiday.

More than a hundred local residents of Changxing county gather to showcase their zongzi-wrapping skills. [Photo/IC]

The city reported an average hotel occupancy rate for 43 local hotels of 56.96 percent during the holiday, with overnight visitors comprising 47 percent of tourists.

Despite the rainy weather, Huzhou introduced innovative entertainment options, including live performances and cultural activities, ensuring visitors had plenty to enjoy. Taihu Lake Longemont Paradise, a tourism complex in Changxing county, received a total of 100,000 visits for its seven summer-themed events.

Traditional customs also enriched the holiday atmosphere, particularly in Changxing, where events such as zongzi-wrapping contests and lantern dances enlivened the scenic area.