County in E China's Shandong develops tourism across the region

Tourism development in Yinan county in Linyi, East China's Shandong province, has helped transform its once dilapidated mountain villages into idyllic resorts for family road trips.

The county has invested approximately 600 million yuan ($87 million) in tourism infrastructure construction and environmental remediation, including building and upgrading over 40 highways, establishing bus routes to tourist destinations across the county and restoring 18 rivers.

An iconic example is the Zhujialin Countryside Complex, an area covering 2,870 hectares, incorporating 23 villages and 16,000 residents. Though in the form of a holiday resort, the complex is open to the public and free of charge.

The old buildings have been renovated into bed-and-breakfasts, cafes and small cinemas, yet retain their historic, rustic ambiance. The museums and galleries display regional handicrafts, including paper-cutting, embroidery and rattan works, and fresh farm produce and related creative products are available for purchase.