Suzhou believes its appeal can bring in more domestic tourists

They aim to provide potential inbound travelers with firsthand and in-depth travel experience of Suzhou via photos, short videos and livestreams.

"Our official accounts on the four social platforms ensure we present the beauty of Suzhou toward a wide range of potential inbound travelers," says Wang Rudong, an official from the bureau. "Content is paramount. We've made different online promotional themes for each month, season and some important traditional Chinese festivals." The bureau recently celebrated the completion of a two-year online marketing campaign in North America and Europe.

Wang notices that after the outbreak of COVID-19 travelers are more willing to encounter nature and staycations have become popular in China. Smaller group tours of no more than 10 people are more popular, and tourists stay longer when on in-depth trip.

"Suzhou is a perfect choice for such a getaway, especially for nearby cities such as Shanghai, where many expats have already settled down. We only have to deliver a message to them about Suzhou's various travel experience," he says.