Tourists flock to Qidong in Nantong to catch a glimpse of the first ray of sunshine in Jiangsu. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

Nantong in Jiangsu province generated total tourism revenue of 90.28 billion yuan ($12.32 billion) and hosted 74.874 million tourists in 2024, representing year-on-year growth rates of 13.5 percent and 15.1 percent, respectively.

Last year, the local authority planned the Nantong Jianghai International Culture and Tourism Festival and organized over 200 events, including the Spring Festival folk parade, Lantern Festival garden party, Nantong Rural Tourism Festival, and seasonal tours.

Among these, the Spring Festival folk parade attracted 66,000 on-site spectators. During the National Day holiday, the Nantong cultural and tourism shopping carnival drew 550,000 visitors over seven days, with on-site sales exceeding 5 million yuan.

Eighteen large-scale commercial performances, including the Zilang Music Festival and Nantong Marathon, were held, offering free entry or discounted tickets to scenic spots during these events.

The fundamental purpose of tourism development is to enhance people's happiness. In 2024, Nantong is committed to creating a "15-minute cultural circle", establishing a new building for the Children's Library, the 24-hour Dasheng Bookstore, and adding 14 new provincial-level public cultural spaces. The city also hosted over 4,000 cultural activities, benefiting nearly 50 million people.