Digital power fuels smart tourism in Hangzhou

A featured tourism route from Hangzhou to Tonglu county developed by the City Brain system is launched in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on Dec 22. [Photo/chinanews.com.cn]

Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province, recently launched a special travel route to Tonglu county with the help of digital technologies, according to a news conference held on Dec 22.

The route, based on a travel scenario developed by Hangzhou's City Brain, a cloud-powered and AI-driven urban traffic-management system that aims to boost efficiency, allows tourists to order a trip at their fingertips, including eating, accommodation, shopping and other entertainment in Tonglu without being trapped in traffic congestion or waiting in long queues at tourist attractions.

Through the system, Tonglu county can monitor real-life traffic conditions at each spot and thereby take effective measures to ease the gridlock. Tourists' preferences and feedbacks will also be captured by the system in a bid to optimize the travel routes.

The smart tourism scheme in the county will be implemented by steps over three years in the hope of achieving a 2 percent increase in its tourism GDP by 2020, said Fang Xindong, head of the Tonglu tourism commission.

Twenty-two exquisite travel routes of the most beautiful ancient villages were also released.

Situated at the Fuchun River in Zhejiang province, Tonglu county is adorned with natural scenery and tranquil villages, and has drawn the world's attention through smart tourism. It was "China's happiest county" in 2015.