Shandong's county follows path of holistic tourism

Tourists from across the country have been flocking to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic in the national 4A-rated tourist spot Ejiao City – located in Dong'e county of Liaocheng city in East China's Shandong province.

They go there to get treated among others with ejiao, a compound used in TCM, made from gelatin extracted from donkey hides, that is said to improve blood circulation and boost energy levels.

Tourists from across the country flock to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic in the tourist spot named Ejiao City. [Photo by Li Aiming for chinadaily.com.cn]

TCM doctors in the clinic diagnose and provide tailored treatment plans for the patients, followed by the on-site preparation of the herbal medicines by professional TCM pharmacists.

"Experiencing the profound culture of TCM feels as though we are touching the historical heritage of Chinese medicine and culture," said a visitor surnamed Zhang, from Beijing.

Leveraging its rich cultural and tourism resources, Dong'e county has been actively promoting its rural vitalization amid the integration of culture and tourism.

Under a development plan for holistic tourism, the county has been focusing on enhancing various scenic spots such as Ejiao City, the Yushan Caozhi Scenic Area, the Aishan Scenic Area and Weishan Yellow River Park.

The county is understood to be committed to accelerating the construction of key cultural and tourism projects – such as the Yellow River Ecological Corridor – with the aim of becoming a top destination for health, wellness and leisure tourism.

The combination of these special tourism attractions has paved the way for picturesque holistic tourism.

The expansion of rural tourism and the cultivation and the processing of traditional Chinese herbs – including Artemisia and peonies – have led to the integrated development of primary, secondary and tertiary industries in the local area. (Edited by Jin Yongxue)