International journalists visit the Immersive Movie Theater at the China Cartoon & Animation Museum during their visit in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on Thursday. [Photo by Peng Peng/Zhejiang Daily]

It was the first time that Ali Abbas, senior reporter for City News Network in Pakistan, had visited Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. He was impressed.

"The climate and environment in Hangzhou are very agreeable and livable, and the overall atmosphere of the city is joyful and contented," he said.

He was one of some 30 journalists from more than 20 countries on a five-day tour of Zhejiang. They saw its booming digital economy and enjoyed the fanfare of the ongoing 19th Asian Games, which are being staged in Hangzhou and other five co-host cities through Oct 8.

Two international journalists try a digital interactive screen at the China Cartoon & Animation Museum during their visit in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on Thursday. [Photo by Peng Peng/Zhejiang Daily]

"China and Hangzhou are very adept at hosting such large-scale events," Ali said.

"The Asian Games atmosphere throughout the city has made a deep impression on me. It's also an opportunity to cheer for our country and athletes from various nations, especially the cricketers," he said.

Many of Ali's fellow travelers said the tour had left an indelible mark. One of the most memorable events was the opening ceremony for the Games.

International journalists photograph an electrical vehicle that serves as the official vehicle for the 19th Asian Games at the headquarters of automaker Geely in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on Thursday. [Photo by Peng Peng/Zhejiang Daily]

"I am thrilled to be at the opening ceremony of the 19th Asian Games," said an excited Claudia Tally, a journalist with the Post Courier newspaper in Papua New Guinea. "The appearance of the digital torchbearers was absolutely spectacular and a feast for the eyes."

She added: "I'm also very much looking forward to my trip to West Lake and other beautiful places. After this tour, I will write news reports about the beautiful scenery of Hangzhou and the Asian Games opening ceremony."

The entire delegation could not help but be amazed by the giant digital torchbearer on Saturday night at the opening ceremony, which featured the first digital ignition of the caldron, one of the opening ceremony's highlights.

More than 100 million people from all over the world participated in the online torch relay over the past three months, becoming digital torchbearers in the process.

At the opening ceremony, a giant digital figure holding a torch made of more than 100 million virtual sparks, each representing a digital torchbearer, marched through the streets of Hangzhou and with giant strides crossed the city's iconic Qiantang River before entering the stadium and lighting the caldron together with the on-site torchbearer, Olympic swimming gold medalist Wang Shun.

International journalists are photographed during their visit in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on Thursday. [Photo by Zhang Jiabi/chinadaily.com.cn]

The innovative lighting of the caldron was widely lauded around the world. It embodied Zhejiang's strong digital economy.

This year, Zhejiang has further promoted digital industrialization and industrial digitalization, nurturing 40 digital companies, each with revenues exceeding 10 billion yuan ($1.37 billion) and establishing 150 new smart factories and digital workshops, according to figures from the provincial government.

An increase of 10 percent in the value added of core industries in the digital economy is expected this year. By the end of 2027, the value added of core industries in the digital economy is expected to exceed 1.6 trillion yuan.

Zhang Jiabi in Hangzhou contributed to this story.