A rendering of the Elephant Hotel located in Huzhou's Nanxun district. [Photo/h66.com]

Three Huzhou counties - Anji, Changxing, and Deqing – were recently listed among the top 100 counties in China in terms of comprehensive tourism strength in 2021.

Anji topped the list for the third year in a row, while Changxing and Deqing ranked third and eighth respectively, according to a recent report.

Huzhou has seen a strong recovery in the tourism sector. Official statistics show that the city welcomed 112 million visitors in 2020, generating 128.46 billion yuan ($19.76 billion) in tourism revenue.

Among the visitors, 44.31 million stayed overnight in the city, recovering to 92.2 percent of the level in the previous year.

In the first half of this year, Anji recorded 11.3 million tourist visits, generating 14.65 billion yuan in tourism revenue, up 51.8 percent and 43.1 percent year-on-year respectively.

The local authorities' efforts in promoting the city by partnering with online travel agencies, social platforms, and hit reality shows have played a big part in the city's robust growth in tourism.

In May, Running Man, a reality show that airs on Zhejiang TV, was filmed in the city's Taihu Lake Longemont Paradise and Giraffe Manor, while Happy Camp, another renowned Chinese TV show, showcased Nanxun Ancient Town in June.

In July, Huzhou was ranked as the first choice to escape the summer heat nationwide by Ctrip, an online travel agency.

The continuous investment in the culture and tourism sectors has also contributed to the growth momentum.

From January to June, a total of 16.2 billion yuan were pumped into Huzhou's tourism and culture sectors, accounting for 64.8 percent of the city's target set for this year.

The Elephant Hotel located in Nanxun district is among these investments. With a total investment of 3.5 billion yuan, the hotel spans about 415 mu (27.66 hectares) and is expected to be completed in 2023.

Tourism has been listed among four modern industries in Huzhou. The city is the only one in China to accommodate three national tourism resorts.