West Lake is a must-visit spot in Hangzhou. [Photo/WeChat account: hzfbwx]

Hangzhou Tourism Economic Laboratory forecasted that during the 2024 New Year's holiday, Hangzhou will receive nearly 700,000 tourists per day, representing a 65.2-percent year-on-year increase over last year.

Key attractions such as Xianghu Scenic Area, Xixi National Wetland Park, Hangzhou Botanical Garden, Hubin Pedestrian Street and China Silk City are expected to witness a significant influx of visitors.

Factors such as holiday duration and weather are expected to influence the distribution of out-of-province tourists, with a slight decrease compared to the National Day holiday. The main source for visitors include Shanghai, Jiangsu, Anhui, Guangdong, Henan, and Shandong, while domestic tourists are primarily from cities such as Jiaxing, Shaoxing, Jinhua, Ningbo, and Huzhou.

In the aviation sector, the number of visitors arriving in Hangzhou by plane is expected to increase 4.8-fold compared to the same period last year. Notably, the number of visitors from Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Xi'an, Beijing, and Harbin is expected to grow significantly.

In terms of accommodation, an estimated 950,000 overnight visitors are expected, marking a 22.7-percent year-on-year increase. Accommodations featuring hot springs, family-friendly facilities and resort stays are likely to be favored by visitors.

As the flagship attraction of Hangzhou tourism, West Lake Scenic Area will introduce a series of New Year-themed cultural and tourism activities. It is expected to receive nearly 100,000 visitors over the holiday, with Lingyin Temple undoubtedly the top choice for tourists.

Skiing and hot spring resorts continue to attract visitors as well, with reservations for skiing at Daming Mountain Wansongling Ski Resort and Tonglu Shengxianli Ski Resort on the rise. Rural tourism also remains popular, and destinations such as Huanggongwang village and Xinsha Island are expected to attract a considerable number of visitors.

A bird's-eye view of Qiandao Lake in autumn. [Photo/VCG]