Three German students wear hanfu to take a group photo in Shaoxing, Zhejiang province, on Nov 3. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Zhejiang province's tourism industry was off to a strong start in 2025, with 145.17 million tourist visits recorded in the first two months, a 9 percent increase year-on-year, according to figures released at a provincial conference in Hangzhou on March 13.

Overnight stays saw particularly strong growth, with 73.21 million visitors opting for extended trips. These trips contributed 130.85 billion yuan ($18.08 billion) in revenue, a 12.4 percent rise from the previous year.

The province also saw a surge in international arrivals, with 320,000 foreign guests checking into local hotels — a 31.2 percent increase year-on-year.

Beyond traditional tourism, Zhejiang's cultural economy was thriving, with large-scale concerts increasing 23 percent compared to the same period last year.

Investment in cultural and tourism infrastructure is also accelerating, with 1,451 projects underway, totaling 1.3 trillion yuan in planned investment. So far, 40.59 billion yuan has already been put to use, achieving an investment completion rate of 31.2 percent.