In May, as late spring gives way to early summer, the enchanting ancient town of Luzhi—where “five” signifies boundless charm—hosts a vibrant cultural feast, offering a unique glimpse into the timeless allure of Jiangnan’s water towns. During the May Day holiday, the Luzhi Ancient Town scenic area has meticulously curated the themed event “Tracing the Footsteps of Saint Tao: Artisan Craftsmanship in Luzhi,” striving to enrich its holiday‑time cultural and tourism offerings, deepen the site’s intrinsic appeal, and elevate visitors’ experiences—drawing large numbers of tourists from nearby areas to explore and check in.

Ahead of the holiday, the scenic area convened a meeting to outline preparations for the peak‑season period, meticulously coordinating efforts across environmental hygiene, market order, visitor services, and safety management. Staff were mobilized to conduct thorough safety inspections, systematically identifying and addressing potential hazards. At key locations—including the visitor center, the paifang archway, and Lüduan Square—flowers and greenery were uniformly arranged to create a festive, tranquil, and welcoming atmosphere. During the holiday, all personnel were on duty, with strict adherence to a 24‑hour shift system and a leadership‑on‑duty protocol to ensure rapid response to emergencies. In addition, a large contingent of volunteers was recruited to provide guidance, information, ticketing assistance, guided tours, and boat‑ride support, while promoting courteous and safe tourism practices among visitors. Security teams were reinforced to intensify patrols and inspections, bolstering crowd‑control and traffic‑management measures to prevent congestion. Cleaning crews were augmented to increase garbage removal and mobile sanitation efforts, ensuring pristine conditions throughout the site and offering visitors a clean, comfortable environment. The paifang archway was equipped with retractable bollards and placed under temporary access control; motor vehicles were strictly prohibited during operating hours to eliminate the risk of mixed pedestrian‑vehicle traffic and safeguard public safety. Coordination with local police, traffic authorities, and urban management agencies resulted in additional security, traffic‑management, and order‑maintenance resources deployed around the scenic area. Meanwhile, Fuli Middle School opened its parking lot free of charge, assigning dedicated staff to distribute traffic‑and‑parking maps and meticulously manage vehicle flow and parking guidance, thereby ensuring smooth and orderly operations and making travel more convenient and worry‑free for visitors.

During the holiday period, the scenic area has meticulously curated a series of themed events under the banner “Tracing Saint Tao: The Artisan Spirit of Luzhi,” offering visitors a range of engaging experiences. These include free admission to the site while dressed in traditional Shuixiang women’s attire, 30% off all cultural‑creative products, photo‑check‑in giveaways, a blind‑box challenge, a stamp‑collecting activity, complimentary entry for reciting classic texts, explorations of the fascinating world of Chinese characters, a literary sports day, and guided tours of Taoyuan’s Wu‑style accents. By seamlessly blending literature with the charm of this water‑town, the program allows visitors to savor Luzhi’s profound cultural heritage as they stroll through its picturesque landscapes. Meanwhile, the Qingdian Luzhi Scenic Area within the Jiangnan Cultural Park has launched its first national‑style showcase celebrating the one‑year anniversary of Qingdian Luzhi, titled “Iron‑Flower Splendor in Luzhi: Enchanting Nights of Qingdian.” The event features a breathtaking performance—“Waterborne Iron‑Flower Show Meets Soaring Phoenix”—alongside dazzling displays of face‑changing and fire‑breathing artistry, complemented by an array of early‑bird ticket perks that have drawn crowds eager to experience it. As night falls and the ancient town lights up, the sounds of song and dance mingle with laughter, transporting visitors into a vibrant, kaleidoscopic tapestry of Jiangnan—a truly immersive journey into the unique allure of this water‑town’s traditional style.

During this year’s May Day holiday, the Luzhi Ancient Town scenic area maintained orderly operations and ensured safety and stability, welcoming a total of 132,100 visitors over the five-day period—a 7.14% increase compared with the same period last year.