Hangzhou draws Southeast Asian tourists with Wuyue culture, 'matcha lake'

A winter view of Qingshan Lake in Hangzhou. [Photo/WeChat account: hzfbwx]

Qingshan Lake Water Forest Park in Lin'an district, Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, has become a popular destination for Southeast Asian tourists, with its duckweed-covered waters earning the nickname "matcha lake."

The park received 600,000 visits in the first half of this year, up 58 percent year-on-year, with foreign visitors accounting for half of the increase. Visitors from Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand have been drawn by photos and videos circulating on social media.

About 5 kilometers away, three museums in the Yijin City Archaeological Park complement the natural attraction. The Lin'an Museum, Wuyue Culture Museum, and Yijin City Site Museum collectively showcase the history and heritage of the Wuyue Kingdom during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period (907-960), which flourished in the region more than 1,000 years ago.

The three museums have also helped channel visitors to surrounding restaurants, homestays, and rural tourism sites. The Yijin City Site Museum recorded more than 7,000 visits in a single day this summer, while visitors from outside Zhejiang accounted for about 40 percent of its audience.

The cultural tourism network is expanding through the "30 Wuyue Scenic Spots" and 10 themed travel routes Hangzhou released in May this year, linking heritage sites with villages and other attractions.