Against the shimmering backdrop of Qiantang River, the cruise vessel Qingxizi recently hosted a dazzling spectacle: 500 drones ascended into the night sky, forming the luminous words “Explore Zhejiang on Cruise.” It marks the official launch of Hangzhou’s refreshed core brand for integrated waterway transportation and tourism.

More than just a fusion of technology and art, the event embodies Hangzhou’s strategic push to link low-altitude economy initiatives with water-based tourism - a key step in advancing the city’s “Three Rivers, Two Banks” (Qiantang, Fuchun, and Xin’an rivers plus Qiandao Lake) belt into a branded, systematized water tour.

The vessel tour initiative will leverage Hangzhou’s identity as a city “shaped by water,” connecting cultural and natural assets along the Grand Canal, Qiantang River, Fuchun River, Xin’an River, and Qiandao Lake. Through night cruises, water sports, and cultural performances, it aims to create a next-gen water tour experience that balances heritage charm with modern vibrancy.

With over 2,000 kilometers of navigable waterways and surging public interest in waterfront leisure, Hangzhou recognizes that high-quality water tourism requires more than just boats and piers. “Convenient, flexible docking points are essential to accessibility and user experience,” said Kong Dongzhen, chief of Legal Services at Hangzhou’s Highway and Waterway Transport Management Center. “Starting January 1, 2026, the newly enacted Hangzhou Regulations on the Development and Management of Waterborne Transport will provide strong legal backing for this integration.”

Notably, the regulation is China’s first local legislation to comprehensively govern waterborne docking facilities. The Article 23 in Chapter 4 explicitly supports “lawful development of sightseeing, recreational, and sporting activities on waterways,” formally empowering innovation in the sector.

Such facilities enable perfect water tour experience. Unlike traditional passenger terminals, these new docking points prioritize flexibility and public access, serving as fixed or floating infrastructures in inland waterways for tourism, public recreation, or transit use. They serve both cruises and passengers.

Now the city is formalizing its management of nearly 200 legacy docking sites across the waterways. Additionally, preliminary plans call for around 30 new docking points along the “Three Rivers, Two Banks” belt, strategically aligned with scenic attractions to enhance connectivity and visitor convenience.