Tonglu, a county in Zhejiang province, is redefining its tourism approach by blending natural scenery with interactive experiences. Recent initiatives include costumed performers at scenic spots and an aquarium at a highway rest stop, signaling a shift from passive sightseeing to active participation.
Olympic champion diver Quan Hongchan’s visit to the Chuiyun Tongtian River scenic area in early August highlighted this trend. She interacted with the “Turtle Immortal,” a performer played by Zhang Yunbin, who entertains visitors on boat tours through limestone caves. Zhang, a 26-year-old opera performer who speaks English and Russian, is part of a rotating cast inspired by the classic novel Journey to the West. More than 120 performers engage visitors in improvised exchanges, photo opportunities, and short scenes along the route.
This immersive approach extends to other sites like Yaolin Wonderland and Yan Ziling Fishing Platform, where performers appear as folklore characters. The goal is to encourage visitors to linger, interact, and create memorable experiences.
Tonglu’s most unconventional experiment is at the Tonglu service area on the G25 Changchun–Shenzhen Expressway. During the May Day holiday, the rest stop featured a large aquarium with mermaid performances, attracting over 80,000 visitors daily. This transformation of a routine highway stop into a destination aims to capture spending that would otherwise pass through. County data shows 1.61 million visits during the holiday, a 13.2% increase, with tourism revenue reaching 958 million yuan (about $132 million), up 12.4%.
In late July, Tonglu launched a summer campaign, “Water Play Kingdom: Tonglu Is Wild,” promoting rafting, family activities, village stays, and outdoor recreation. This strategy focuses on offering a variety of options to encourage weekend stays and repeat visits, rather than promoting a single landmark.
Tonglu is also preparing for more international visitors. Yaolin township has been selected as a provincial pilot area for inbound-tourism innovation, with efforts underway to improve multilingual signs and international payment options. The multilingual “Turtle Immortal” has become a symbol of this initiative, with Chinese social media users joking that “the Heavenly Palace has opened an international branch.”
These developments underscore Tonglu’s commitment to enhancing visitor engagement through immersive experiences and infrastructure upgrades, positioning the county as a dynamic destination that offers more than just scenic views.
