Fusion of agriculture, culture, tourism energizes rural vitality in Shandong county

The beautiful rural scenery of Dong'e. [Photo by Li Aiming/for chinadaily.com.cn]

In 2024, Dong'e county in Liaocheng, Shandong province, has been exploring the cultural heritage of villages along the Yellow River, driving the integrated development of agriculture, culture, and tourism tailored to the local landscape.

The county has been focusing on enhancing rural infrastructure, improving the living environment in rural areas, and developing the rural vitalization partnership model. Three rural vitalization demonstration zones have been strategically developed so far.

Aishan village, known for its wormwood cultivation, is located in the county's Tongcheng sub-district. It has been hosting unique activities such as wormwood picking experiences, educational tours, and health forums. By developing culturally rich and attractive agricultural products, the village has created more jobs for locals and attracted a growing number of visitors.

Since 2017, the annual Peony Tourism Festival held in the village has been boosting tourism revenue by over 5 million yuan ($687,700) each year, making Aishan one of Shandong province's top scenic villages, a provincial-level beautiful rural area, and a key focus for rural tourism in the region.

Dong'e's ejiao experience tour and Yellow River sightseeing tour have been recognized as top-tier rural tourism routes in China, while the "Nine Villages along the Yellow River" rural vitalization demonstration area has been designated as a provincial-level exemplar in Shandong province. Tongcheng sub-district has been selected as a Shandong provincial fine cultural and tourism town and a hub for nurturing tourism accommodation clusters, while Daqiao town has been honored as a Shandong provincial rural vitalization demonstration town. (Edited by Li Weiwei)