A lotus-themed market at Nanyuan Garden in Taicang, Suzhou. [Photo/WeChat account: tcfbgw]

Taicang's tourism and consumer markets enjoyed a strong boost during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, with popular attractions, cultural venues and shopping destinations drawing large crowds.

According to local statistics, the city's 17 major tourist attractions welcomed a total of 342,400 visits during the holiday, an increase of 39.41 percent year-on-year.

One of the season's highlights was the annual Lotus Exhibition at Nanyuan Garden, where more than 40 varieties of lotus flowers came into bloom among the garden's historic pavilions and waterways. Beyond flower viewing, the lotus-themed market became a popular attraction, offering bouquets, creative cultural products and seasonal snacks inspired by the elegant summer blossoms.

Shaxi Ancient Town in Taicang, Suzhou. [Photo/WeChat account: tcfbgw]

Shaxi Ancient Town was also buzzing with festive activities. Visitors immersed themselves in traditional Dragon Boat Festival customs by trying games such as pitch-pot, shooting, catching rice dumplings and tossing lucky sachets. Intangible cultural heritage handicraft workshops and traditional opera performances further enriched the holiday experience.

Public cultural venues across the city also attracted large numbers of visitors. Hands-on activities, including dragon boat model making, traditional Chinese fan crafting, and porcelain inlay art, gave participants the opportunity to experience the charm of traditional Chinese culture through creativity and interaction.