Street art performances, international food markets, immersive musical theater — during this year’s National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, Ganlushan Resort in Huangpi District became a magnet for both locals and tourists. Blending trendy elements with traditional culture, the resort drew close to 400,000 visitors over the eight-day holiday, injecting fresh vitality into Wuhan’s holiday tourism scene.
Starting October 1, the Ganlushan International Street Art Festival kicked off with a spectacular lineup. A highlight of the event was The Grand Magician, China’s first stilt-walking fantasy show, brought by the original creative team behind the Wuzhen Theatre Festival. Characters like the white-robed wizard Harry, elven mage Rachel, and the dark-cloaked Heron performed fantastical stories while walking through the crowds on stilts, earning round after round of applause.
“This is the first time I’ve seen a stilt performance up close — it was absolutely stunning!” said Zhao Yuyi, a tourist from Jiangxi.
Wang Pengcheng, a Chengdu-based actor who played the white-robed wizard, has performed in Wuhan multiple times. “The passion of Wuhan’s audience always touches me,” he shared. “Ganlushan’s beautiful environment makes me want to explore nearby scenic spots like the Mulan area.”
During the festival, the interactive “African Drum Circle” drew large crowds to a “hundred-person drumming party” where guests experienced exotic rhythms firsthand. Martin, an international student from Africa currently pursuing a PhD in Wuhan, gave an impromptu performance of I Love You, China, sparking loud cheers from the audience.
Running in parallel was the International Gourmet Market, featuring over 40 specialty food stalls in a “global culinary journey.” Zhang Qibiao, operator of the Eastern European Kitchen booth, noted: “We’ve always been popular with young people in Wuhan. Coming to Ganlushan gives us a chance to share our brand with even more visitors.”
On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, Ganlushan held the heartwarming “Blessed Moon Bunny Lantern Festival”, where guests eagerly posed for photos with glowing rabbit-shaped lanterns and exchanged well-wishes under the moonlight.
These diverse events helped boost foot traffic across all sectors of the resort’s cultural and creative town. Among the standout attractions was the Ganlushan International Ski Resort, the largest indoor competition-grade ski facility in Central China. It has quickly become a favorite among skiing enthusiasts from both within and outside the province.
National Snowboard Parallel Giant Slalom Team Head Coach, Zorica Stanković, who was on-site conducting training sessions, praised the facility: “This is one of the best indoor ski resorts I’ve ever seen. It ranks among the top three nationwide.” She expressed hope that Wuhan could one day host international-level ski competitions.
All four of the resort’s boutique hotels reported full occupancy during the first six days of the holiday. Local residents Mr. Wang and Ms. Jiang even rescheduled their originally planned May Day wedding to October 3 to hold their ceremony at the newly opened Ganlushan Floral Hotel – Lanxue, booking rooms for family and friends and creating unforgettable memories.
Since its opening, Ganlushan Resort — developed by Wuhan Urban Construction Group as the first large-scale ice and snow-themed cultural tourism complex in Central China — has welcomed nearly 10 million visitors over the past year. It continues to develop its all-season, all-ages, and multi-format vacation model.
A spokesperson from the Huangpi District Bureau of Culture and Tourism noted that the district is currently accelerating efforts to build a world-class “Mulan Tourism” destination. As one of the three pillars of the regional tourism triangle, Ganlushan Resort will continue to roll out new formats and experiences, helping the “Mulan Tourism” brand reach a broader stage.
Ganlushan’s anniversary celebrations are still underway. From October 24 to 26, the resort will host the International Snow Friends Festival, featuring a series of interactive events, specialty competitions, and themed parties designed specifically for snow sports lovers.