Wuxi's cherry blossom season elevated by helicopter tours and global connections

An aerial photo shows the Yuantouzhu Scenic Area on Taihu Lake in Wuxi, Jiangsu province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The Yuantouzhu Scenic Area on Taihu Lake in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, is a popular destination for tourists seeking the beauty of gentle spring breezes and fluttering cherry blossoms.

With over 30,000 cherry blossom trees covering an area of more than 650,000 square meters, it is one of China's renowned cherry blossom viewing spots.

To enhance the cherry blossom viewing experience, Wuxi has introduced helicopter services this year, offering visitors a unique aerial perspective of the colorful cherry blossoms.

At the launch ceremony of the 2024 Wuxi International Month and International Cherry Blossom Week on Wednesday, Wuxi Mayor Zhao Jianjun highlighted that Wuxi's international connections have expanded to 50 friendly cities over the past decade, with economic and trade exchanges involving over 220 countries and regions.

"As an internationally oriented city with rich cultural charm, vibrant development and innovative vitality, Wuxi has consistently seized opportunities and promoted development through two-way openness," said Zhao.

Last year, the city's GDP reached nearly $200 billion, with a 6 percent growth. The per capita GDP exceeded $29,000, ranking first among China's large and medium-sized cities. The total import and export volume exceeded $100 billion, and actual use of foreign investment reached $4.12 billion, Zhao added.