Visiting Wuhan East Lake High-tech Development Zone (Optics Valley of China, or OVC) to attend concerts, ride the suspended monorail, and explore tech museums has become a popular choice for tourists this summer. 

Around cultural and tourism venues, hotels and homestays have seen significant increases in foot traffic, often leading to rooms being fully booked.

The lobby of the Crowne Plaza in OVC is crowded with visitors. [Photo/WeChat account of Optics Valley of China]

During concerts, hotels like Crowne Plaza and the Marriott have become popular "star-chasing stations". "Sometimes, multiple large activities overlap, resulting in fans booking rooms in bulk, to the extent that even star teams struggle to secure accommodation without prior reservations," remarked Duan Meiduo, marketing manager of Marriott in OVC.

In addition to concerts, Wuhan has also hosted many anime events like the CGF Animation and Game Festival and the MAG Animation and Game Carnival at the China Optics Valley Convention & Exhibition Center. According to Duan, these events not only boosted hotel occupancy rates by 10 percent compared to regular days but also injected more youthful energy into the hotels.

The CGF Animation and Game Festival. [Photo/WeChat account of Optics Valley of China]

In June, OVC unveiled a map of technology tourism and eight premium routes, making attractions like the Hubei Science and Technology Museum and the China Architecture Science and Technology Museum popular destinations for family learning experiences.

Located less than one kilometer from the China Architecture Science and Technology Museum, Yishang Hotel has become a popular resting place for groups from surrounding cities. "The development of cultural and tourism activities in OVC has greatly boosted the hotel industry," said hotel manager Xia Sha. "We also look forward to collaborating with local tourism departments to provide better services for tourists."