Nationwide crackdown targets illegal use of fire in wide range of activities

300 rural tourism routes recommended by ministry

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism has recommended 300 quality trips covering all the country's provincial-level regions to promote rural tourism ahead of the eight-day National Day holiday which begins on Thursday.

The recommendations range from boutique homestays in suburban Beijing to the Taohuayuan Scenic Area in Changde, Hunan province.

The ministry said the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic meant tourists now preferred shorter trips to cut down on the time they spent traveling and placed more emphasis on safety, health and coziness. As a result, rural tourism featuring closeness to nature and convenient travel is gaining popularity among holidaymakers, it said.

The ministry said efforts will be made to tap into local cultural and agricultural resources to develop cultural and creative products that adapt to modern life and promote cooperation with e-commerce platforms in an effort to boost economic growth.

Data from the ministry showed that rural tourism recovered strongly in the second quarter of the year, with total revenue of about 173 billion yuan ($25.36 billion), up nearly 149 percent from the first quarter, when it fell 77 percent year-on-year.