Wuhan welcomes international tourists for Spring Festival

A Chinese New Year event for international visitors recently kicked off in Wuhan, Hubei province, drawing more than 250 tourists from over 30 countries and regions, including the United States, Thailand and Indonesia.

As the birthplace of ancient Chu culture, Hubei boasts a wealth of traditional customs that continue to attract global travelers.

Inbound tourism to Wuhan has surged since the start of the year. During the Spring Festival holiday, inbound travel bookings in Wuhan increased by 48 percent year-on-year, according to the local tourism department.

Upon arrival at Wuhan, the international guests headed straight to the Hankouli tourism district, where they explored temple fairs, lantern displays and intangible cultural heritage activities showcasing the essence of New Year traditions.

The streets were adorned with red lanterns, and an array of traditional handicrafts filled the bustling festival market.

At a banquet, visitors took part in hands-on cultural experiences such as writing Spring Festival couplets, paper-cutting and dough figurine sculpting.

Liu Boqian contributed to this story.