Spring breezes have once again turned the land green as the Year of the Dragon dawns, and auspicious energy fills every home, bringing lasting blessings. As time flows on, we welcome the vibrant new Year of Jia Chen—the Year of the Dragon. At the Luzhi Ancient Town Scenic Area, spring blossoms bloom in profusion, drawing throngs of visitors and brimming with festive cheer. During the holiday period, admission tickets are offered at half price, while comprehensive efforts are made to ensure safety management, environmental hygiene, orderly operations, and smooth guest services. A themed event titled “A Chinese New Year in Jiangnan: The Tranquil Charm of Luzhi” has been carefully planned, enriching the range of tourism offerings and continually elevating the cultural depth of the site, attracting large numbers of local and nearby tourists eager to visit and experience its unique charm.

Ahead of the Spring Festival, the Luzhi Ancient Town Scenic Area convened a meeting on workplace safety and meticulously planned measures to ensure visitor safety during the holiday. Experts were invited to join the town’s fire‑safety and work‑safety authorities in conducting specialized inspections, thoroughly identifying and rectifying potential risks and hazards. Staff also carried out emergency fire‑response drills to enhance their practical skills and crisis‑management capabilities. Led by the town’s top officials, inspection teams visited key areas of the scenic zone to oversee safety operations, making every effort to maintain a secure and stable tourism environment throughout the holiday period. At major landmarks such as the Visitor Center, Lüduan Square, and the Paifang archways, as well as along critical routes, uniform arrangements of fresh flowers and greenery were set up, accompanied by lanterns, colorful banners, and traditional couplets and “fu” characters. In selected representative ancient bridges within the core area, lanterns, streamers, and floral displays were strategically installed to create picturesque photo opportunities for visitors. Thoughtfully designed themed activities, including interactive check‑in points, further enriched the visitor experience and helped foster a joyful, harmonious festive atmosphere. During the holiday, all staff members were on duty, while a large contingent of volunteers was recruited to promote responsible and civilized tourism. Visitors received attentive guidance, information, ticketing assistance, interpretive services, and support throughout their visits and boat tours. Security personnel were reinforced to bolster crowd‑control efforts, improve order management, and ensure smooth flow of visitors, with strict measures in place to prevent stampedes. Cleaning crews were also augmented, increasing the frequency of mobile sweeping and waste removal to maintain pristine environmental conditions and provide tourists with a clean, comfortable setting for their exploration.

During the holiday, the Luzhi Ancient Town scenic area not only creates a distinctive atmosphere of traditional Jiangnan water-town festivities but also hosts a host of folk activities, including Luzhi Lianxiang performances, dragon dances, the Duan Duan procession, the “Five Blessings Arrive to Welcome the God of Wealth” ritual, prayers for good fortune at Baosheng Temple, and lantern‑riddle guessing during the Lantern Festival. In addition, visitors can enjoy interactive experiences such as stamp‑collecting with blind‑box draws, special promotional tours, and photo‑ops with designated check‑in spots. To further enhance the celebration, the area is offering a range of perks: half‑price admission, complimentary access when dressed in traditional water‑town attire or Hanfu, rewards for collecting a full set of stamps, and thoughtful gifts from the Five Blessings God of Wealth—ensuring that guests can fully savor the charm of a Jiangnan Chinese New Year and revel in the serene, enchanting spirit of Luzhi.

During the holiday period, the Luzhi Ancient Town scenic area maintained orderly and safe operations, with no tourism-related complaints filed. According to statistics, over the eight-day Spring Festival holiday, the site welcomed a total of 187,300 visitors and generated combined revenues of RMB 259,100—up 8.96% and 100%, respectively, compared with the same period last year—and recovering to 88.98% and 30.87% of the levels recorded in the corresponding period of 2019.