Hechi sees tourism surge during Chinese New Year holiday

During the Chinese New Year holiday, Hechi city in South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region embraced the concept of "traditional culture plus tourism" to enhance its tourism offerings, seeing a surge in both tourist arrivals and tourism revenue.

Yizhou district's folk parade builds a strong Chinese New Year vibe. [Photo provided to guangxi.chinadaily.com.cn/hechi]

According to the city's bureau of culture, sports, and tourism, Hechi received 3.53 million visitors during the holiday from Feb 15 to 23, an 11.3 percent increase from the previous year, and generated a total tourism revenue of about 23 billion yuan ($3.3 billion), reflecting a 13.7 percent increase.

The counties administered by Hechi leveraged their unique ethnic cultures to create immersive and interactive cultural activities that boosted tourism spending.

In Donglan county's Tongle village, a breathtaking torch-lit event captivated visitors and locals alike. Jinchengjiang and Yizhou districts hosted dragon and lion dance parades, enhancing the festive atmosphere with displays of intangible cultural heritage.

Dahua Yao autonomous county celebrated the festival with a 1,000-person feast and traditional food competitions, attracting over 20,000 visitors. In Nandan county, the Maguai Festival was held to vividly showcase the intangible cultural heritage of the Zhuang ethnic group, offering tourists a deep dive into local customs.

Traditional Maguai (frogs in the local language, representing prosperity and wealth) Festival celebration was held in Donglan county, Guangxi. [Photo provided to guangxi.chinadaily.com.cn/hechi]

In addition, Hechi organized over 140 large-scale cultural and sporting events, including more than 300 cultural events and 500 sports competitions, alongside numerous performances of intangible cultural heritage and culinary fairs. This comprehensive approach ensured a vibrant holiday experience, showcasing the city's cultural charm and hospitality.