Hangzhou Poised to Embrace the World – An Interview with Hangzhou Tourism Commission Director Li Hong

China Silk Museum 

With its tourism innovation, Hangzhou is actively exploring ways to transform its tourist industry. What we seek is not just to increase tourism revenue, but to attract investment and tap potentials of other industries. Tourism should become an engine for local economic development, presenting opportunities for the city’s overall development. 

CT: The West Lake is one of the few national tourist attractions open to the public for free. What changes has this practice brought to Hangzhou? 

Li: Since 2003, Hangzhou has strengthened ecological protection of the West Lake, guided by the concept of “returning the lake to the people, and surrounding people with the lake.” The West Lake is part of the city, closely associated with the citizens’ daily lives. Hangzhou was built to complement the lake, earned its reputation from it, and developed because of it. After revamping and upgrading its neighboring areas and dredging the lake, we mean by returning it to the people making it free for the public, including both residents and tourists, because we always put people first.