Two-hundred tourists from Guangdong province got together at Hanshan Temple to listen to New Year’s prayers, starting their four-day, three-night winter trip in Suzhou of Jiangsu province on January 12, 2014.

The winter trip was based on famous director Feng Xiaogang’s film Personal Tailor, which includes many scenes in Suzhou. The first group tour filled up as soon as it was released in Guangdong.

Ms Peng and her husband came to Suzhou to revive their old dream – they went to Suzhou 20 years ago for their honeymoon. Peng said the city has changed a lot, and its ancient-style architectures impressed her the most.

A man surnamed Zhang, working in the tourism industry, said more people now prefer self-service tours, so there must be something unique about group tours to attract customers. Specially designed routes, like winter tours in Suzhou, may be a way to offer value. He has organized tours to Suzhou but only on regular routes, featuring the most famous gardens and boat rides on the canal. Some attractions like Qionglong Mountain and Luxiang ancient town were not included. He suggested that more cultural routes be established in Suzhou.

Xu Weirong, deputy director of the Suzhou tourism administration, said many visitors to Suzhou come from Guangdong province. They have invited experts and travel agencies to Suzhou for research, designing winter tour routes according to their demands.