Shaxi town, renowned for its ancient riverside buildings, ancient lanes and former residences of celebrities, is a popular scenic spot in Taicang. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The tourism industry in Taicang, Jiangsu province saw a staggering increase in both revenue and number of visitors over the past year, according to the Taicang Municipal Tourism Bureau.

The city entertained more than 6.13 million tourists and grossed 9.62 billion yuan ($1.39 billion) in tourism revenue in 2018, year-on-year increases of 8.5 percent and 13.9 percent respectively.

The results are primarily attributable to the various festivals and promotional events held in Shanghai, including the Taicang Tourism Culture Festival, New Year's Shopping Festival and an exhibition showcasing Taicang's countryside scenery at Shanghai Pudong International Airport.