A fire dragon dance is performed at Nianhuawan Bay. [Photo provided to gowuxi.com]

Wuxi, Jiangsu province, capitalized on its intangible cultural heritage to plan a series of cultural feasts during the Spring Festival holiday, presenting a vibrant city image to the world.

According to data from travel platform Ctrip, the online tourism market in Wuxi saw a 20 percent year-on-year increase in visitors during the holiday, with tourism revenue up by 22 percent. Wuxi was selected as one of Ctrip's top 10 dark horse destinations for the holiday.

In terms of attractions, ticket bookings in the city increased by 22 percent year-on-year, with Yuantouzhu Scenic Area, Huishan Ancient Town, and Nianhuawan Bay ranking as the top three most popular spots.

International visitors strike an imposing pose with dragon dance performers at Meili Ancient Town. [Photo/Wuxi Lounge]

Statistics from Ctrip showed that inbound tourist visits to Wuxi during the Spring Festival holiday increased by 34 percent year-on-year, with inbound tourism spending up by 32 percent, highlighting Wuxi's strong appeal in the international tourism market.

At night, Nianhuawan Bay resembles a vibrant, flowing painting. The millennia-old molten iron flower display looked like falling meteors. The fire dragon dance, twisting and turning in the hands of artisans, symbolizes the renewal of the year. A Jordanian tourist exclaimed repeatedly, "It's truly incredible; I've never seen anything like this in my life."

In Meili Ancient Town, the Taibo Temple Fair, listed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, kicked off with 18 distinctive teams, including dragon dancers and performers representing the 12 Chinese zodiac signs, parading through the streets. Over 40 overseas friends working and studying in Wuxi visited the ancient town, all of whom agreed, "Celebrating Chinese New Year in Wuxi is amazing!"