CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- The fervor of visitors flocking to Chongqing shows no signs of waning despite the scorching heat, and this mountain city has presented a remarkable result in tourism! Recently, according to the Chongqing Municipal Culture and Tourism Development Commission, Chongqing saw a significant growth in the number of tourists received and their overall spending this summer.

The Three Gorges Museum having extended the operating hours

Data from the Chongqing Municipal Culture and Tourism Development Commission shows that according to the preliminary projections, during the summer vacation of 2024 (from July to August), Chongqing received some 83.19 million tourist trips, up 15.3% from last year; total tourism-related consumption reached about 89.9 billion yuan, up 13.5% from last year.

The growing craze in "cultural heritage and museums" serves as a major reflection of the city's success.

According to a briefing from the Three Gorges Museum on September 5, from January to August this year, the museum welcomed 2.34 million visitors, surpassing last year's total, up 55.63% from last year, marking an increase of nearly 210,000 visitors compared to the same period last year.

During the two months this summer alone, the museum saw over 834,000 visitors, an increase of 186,000 compared to the same period last year. Many parents planning to take their children have noticed that booking tickets requires quick action. Statistics show that from June 29 to August 25, the museum hit its reservation limit every day for 58 consecutive days. Announcing visitor limits and crowded exhibit halls became a regular part of the summer experience.

To meet the demand for visiting and provide more visiting hours, the museum has extended its operating hours from July 20 to August 31 (excluding Monday the day of closure), with the closing time changed from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., giving visitors an extra hour.

Thoughtful "fan service" receives praise

Inside the exhibition halls, exhibitions like "Magnificent Three Gorges," which was updated in May and tells the great history and splendid of the Yangtze River through various hi-tech means, and "Masterful Craftsmanship: Exhibition of Protection and Use of Unearthed Relics in the Three Gorges" showcasing the result of preservation of cultural relics, attracted much attention.

For many netizens, several high-value, impactful special exhibitions of exquisite artifacts displayed by Three Gorges Museum this year have sparked widespread discussion on social media platforms, including "The Flavor of Life: Daily Life Scenes in the Paintings during Ming and Qing Dynasties", "Blossoms of a Thousand Years The Image of Times: Academic Joint Exhibition on the Inheritance and Development of Chinese Flower-and-Bird Paintings", "Jade Treasures in the Yangtze River: Special Exhibition of Prehistoric Jade Artifacts in the Yangtze River Basin," "Stories in the Year of 1200: Stories of Ancients Visiting the White Crane Ridge", and “Learn the History of China from Shanxi: Chinese Civilization seen in Hundreds of Cultural Relics in Shanxi”. During the exhibition "The Flavor of Life", visitors flocked to see it, leading to surge in visits to the Three Gorges Museum. Especially in the week before the exhibition closed, visitors had to wait three to four hours on average to enter.

In June, three national treasures from the museum, including the White Crane Ridge Rock Inscriptions, the Qin Liangyu's Red Silk Python Robe with Embroidered Gold Dragons and Phoenixes, and the Autographed Scroll of the Literary and Art Workers’ Association, were featured on the popular TV program National Treasure, winning over countless fans. According to statistics, the Underwater Museum of White Crane Ridge alone saw nearly a threefold increase in visitors compared to the same period last year.

In addition, the museum's thoughtful "fan service" has earned wide praise. Its cultural product, the "mini pink incense burner," has always topped the "sold out" charts. In response to the calls from netizens to see the actual artifact, the museum promptly displayed the original—an incense burner made of rose quartz engraved with two dragons holding rings and a pair of handles of Qing Dynasty, in a booth of "Jingrenhuaide: Exhibition of Cultural Relics from Social Donations" on the fourth floor, attracting many fans to see it in person.

It is learned that next, the Three Gorges Museum will hold more high-quality exhibitions themed on "the Three Gorges", such as the Gaoxiaping Lake, Shipping in the Sichuan section of the Yangtze River, and Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Three Gorges. (Translated by Jane, Fathom Language Limited)