At the opening meeting of the third session of the 14th National People's Congress on Wednesday, Chinese Premier Li Qiang delivered a government work report, highlighting last year's surge in inbound travel driven by a series of visa-free policies. CGTN's Yang Jinghao visited Hangzhou in east China to explore how the city's landscapes and diverse cultures are attracting overseas tourists.

YANG JINGHAO, Hangzhou City "This is Hangzhou in east China's Zhejiang Province. There's a famous saying: 'Heaven above, Suzhou and Hangzhou below.' And no trip here is complete without visiting one of its most iconic landmarks."

YANG JINGHAO, Hangzhou City "Yes, it's the West Lake, a place often described as a real-life paradise. For centuries, it has captivated poets, painters, and filmmakers alike."

Here, we met a tour group from Malaysia.

ONG JUNG THAI, Malaysian Tourist "It's a very big lake, very nice and very clean. Very enjoyable trip."

YANG JINGHAO, Hangzhou City "For many, the name Hangzhou instantly brings to mind a legendary tale — The Legend of the White Snake. This classic Chinese love story between a human and a spirit has been told for centuries, and their fateful encounter happened right here, by West Lake."

And these are just the central figures of the tale in one of the most popular adaptations – Xu Xian and the White Snake-turned Bai Suzhen.

EVON POH, Malaysian Tour Guide "We can still remember it, because since we are little, we already watched the movie. I feel she is so brave, because she can sacrifice for love."

Beyond the classics, new films are also generating excitement, like Ne Zha 2, which is currently a box office hit.

ONG JUNG THAI, Malaysian Tourist "I'm looking forward to it, but it won't hit the screen in my country until the 13th – guess I'll have to wait until I'm back."

Beyond its natural beauty, the city also offers visitors a deep dive into its rich traditions.

This is Hu Qing Yu Tang, a pharmacy founded by a renowned businessman in the Qing Dynasty. More than just a place for herbal medicine, it's a cultural landmark showcasing the art of traditional Chinese medicine.

TINA SCHOENFELD, German Tourist "I would like to learn about Chinese traditional medicine because it's very famous all over the world, and I think China is the best place to come to study it. And you're more focused on the things that come from nature and not so much to industrialize it. That's very different from the Western approach."

According to Hangzhou tourism authorities, in 2024, the city recorded around 1.2 million inbound overnight visits, a sharp year-on-year increase. The top three source countries included the U.S., Malaysia and the Republic of Korea.

GONG JINGWEN, Director, Cultural and Tourism Promotion Center of Shangcheng District, Hangzhou City "We hope to leverage the latest technological trends by integrating AI, VR, and XR into our new tourism experiences, creating more immersive and diverse offerings for visitors."

During the opening of the annual session of the National People's Congress on Wednesday, Chinese Premier Li Qiang reaffirmed China's commitment to high-quality opening-up. This is expected to further ease travel for global visitors – whether they're tourists or investors. YJH, CGTN, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province.