Rural tourism increasingly popular in Chongqing

A themed tour featuring joyful autumn countryside vistas, harvest activities, outdoor adventures and culinary delights was launched on Oct 19 in Baoluan township, in Chongqing's Fengdu county.

In recent years, rural tourism destinations have seen surging numbers of visitors during the holidays across China as people become more interested in farming culture.

"Boasting rich culture, beautiful rural scenery and comprehensive tourism facilities, Baoluan offers tourists a unique countryside tour experience," said Tan Mingquan, Party secretary of the township.

Located 20 kilometers from Fengdu county town, Baoluan has abundant tourism resources, including the Nantianhu Nature Reserve and Shiping Forest Farm.

The county is also renowned for its agricultural products such as rice, soybeans and fish, as the local soil and water are abundant in selenium and strontium, two trace elements essential for human health.

In recent years, the local government has been working to build Baoluan, a rural vitalization demonstration township, into a tourism destination that combines modern agriculture, rural tourism and cultural experiences.

A variety of events, such as a marathon, rice field fishing, a countryside music concert and a mountain hiking expedition, attracted over 3,000 tourists.

The marathon drew enthusiastic participants such as Cai Yuting and Wang Yuqing, two girls from a local junior high school.

"Participating in the mini-marathon proved to be both challenging and rewarding. The sight of vibrant fields, colorful flowers and a sparkling fountain along the way offered us a fresh experience," Wang said.

As China vitalizes its farming culture, Fengdu has also actively participated in the development of the Bashu Cultural Tourism Corridor and has worked toward establishing a national demonstration zone for the advancement of cultural and tourism industries, local authorities said.

In mid-August, Fengdu launched the digital Bayu farming culture map, the first of its kind in the country.

Available as a WeChat mini-program, the map showcases information about over 1,000 local agricultural heritage spots in Chongqing and tourist services associated with them. It makes full use of local farming culture, promotes agricultural development and creates more jobs for farmers.

"Agriculture is the root and soul of our rural culture, as well as an invaluable asset," said the county's Party chief Zhang Guozhong.

Known for its rich agricultural heritage spanning over 2,000 years, Fengdu aims to pioneer a novel agriculture paradigm by fostering sightseeing, farming experiences and field study tours, Zhang said.