Crowds of people visit the Yiwu International Trade Market. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]

Yiwu, a county-level city of Jinhua, Zhejiang province, set a new tourism record this May Day holiday with over 1.45 million visitors, marking a 21.95-percent increase from 2023. The city topped Jinhua's charts in both visitor count and average overnight stays.

The holiday period highlighted Yiwu's traditional tourist spots, such as the bustling Fotang Ancient Town. The Yiwu International Trade Market was a particular draw, attracting throngs of shoppers, with a footfall of 62,415 people over five days.

Rural tourism shone in Dachen and Chi'an towns, drawing over 300,000 and 280,000 visitors, respectively. Dachen's crayfish season and Chi'an's art kite festival blended natural beauty with cultural offerings.

Yiwu's tourism strategy also focused on creating diverse experiences, combining food, music, and culture into unique travel routes. The Jiming Pavilion's ancient-style market and the heritage craft area were visitor favorites. Data showed that the pavilion welcomed over 95,000 visitors, with peak footfall reaching 30,000, setting a new record in single-day visitor numbers.

The Yiwu Botanical Garden's new scenic pink steam train ride through vibrant fields added to the allure, attracting 145,000 visitors during the holiday and reflecting Yiwu's commitment to blending tourism with cultural and natural beauty.