Hohhot hosted 896,500 domestic tourists during the finals of the Inner Mongolia Football Super League 2025 from Oct 24 to 26, generating a total domestic tourist expenditure of 734 million yuan ($1.04 million).

To convert sports event internet traffic into economic growth, Hohhot launched the "Ticket Stub+" benefit program. Fans could use their ticket stubs to enjoy discounts at designated merchants and free entry to certain scenic spots.

The "Hohhot New Lamb Festival" event proved effective in attracting tourists. By Oct 26, the event boosted the number of non-local tourists to Hohhot by 6 percent year-on-year, with the number of accommodation orders placed by non-local tourists increased by 2.4 percent year-on-year. Participating merchants, particularly those offering lamb cuisine, saw a 3.9 percent increase in order volume year-on-year.

The topic "Hohhot is so hot" topped the local hot-search lists on both Weibo and Douyin platforms, with total views exceeding 18.8 million. So far, there have been 11,200 related posts online, with content views surpassing 32.91 million.

Around the stadium, supporting activities such as cultural and creative markets allowed fans to immerse themselves in the cultural and high-tech charm of Hohhot. These activities increased audience engagement, and boosted sales of surrounding cultural and creative products.

Although the finals and other sports events have concluded, Hohhot's journey of integrating culture, sports, tourism, and commerce is just beginning.