Country living

Tourists visit Wucun for its pastoral appeal. The village in the famous water town Wuzhen in Zhejiang province has been developed into a tourist attraction that brings city people close to nature, and they can enjoy fresh food directly from the fields. Photo by Yang Feiyue / China Daily

It mostly attracts parents with children, says Wuzhen Tourism Co's branding manager, Xu Hong.

Kids can get close to nature and appreciate food before it reaches the table - and after.

Packages costing 880 yuan ($130) per night cover meals, accommodation, local transportation and interactive activities. The price drops to 220 yuan without accommodation.

Visitors can select programs according to their interests. Indeed, there seems to be something for everyone.

Activities include paper-folding, scarecrow-making, cocktail and coffee classes, and animal feeding.

Athletic types can enjoy programs featuring shuttlecock, archery and badminton. Winners get prizes. Mornings offer calisthenics, 2-kilometer jogs and tai chi sessions in the village square, which also hosts group dances.

Wucun's small zoo also serves as a venue for tourists to compete on three-player soccer teams and to play table tennis.