A girl hugs the King of Trees. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]

The Tianmu Mountain Scenic Area in Hangzhou's Lin'an district saw a 75 percent surge in tourists during the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday from Oct 1 to 8, fueled by the 5th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves held in September.

Known as the Kingdom of Ancient Trees, Tianmu Mountain drew nearly 20,000 visitors from across China and the world during the eight-day break. With towering cedar forests, lush trails, and fresh mountain air, the scenic area became a social media hotspot, prompting it to implement temporary crowd limits for three consecutive days due to heavy traffic.

A bus stop near Tianmu Mountain is packed with visitors during the holiday. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]

The congress's global influence has significantly raised Tianmu Mountain's profile, transforming it into a world-class eco-tourism destination. Local inns, hotels, and farm stays reported record occupancy rates, with many fully booked for days.

Eco-themed attractions like the Tianmu Future Valley also saw boosts, especially among families exploring nature and biodiversity exhibits. Local villagers benefited from the tourism boom, as farm-to-table restaurants and countryside homestays enjoyed strong business throughout the holiday.

Officials said the congress has brought lasting benefits to the region — enhancing its global visibility, improving local infrastructure, and fueling sustainable tourism.

International visitors give their stamp of approval to a local farm-to-table restaurant. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]