Peach blossoms boost rural tourism economy

Visitors livestream at the peach blossom festival in Qingyun county. [Photo by Ma Junliang/for chinadaily.com.cn]

The Second Peach Blossom Festival took place in Nanhou village, Qingyun county, Shandong province on April 8, showcasing the beautiful rural scenery and boosting rural vitalization through the integration of agriculture and cultural tourism.

Peach flowers in various colors, ranging from pinkish-white to bright red, are blooming in an area of approximately 13.33 hectares, attracting many visitors.

Shangtang town in Qingyun county has also explored the concept of boosting rural vitalization through rural tourism, as well as promoting friendship and attracting investment through peach blossom gatherings.

During the festival, Shangtang town launched multiple tourism routes including rural ecotourism, study tours, and agricultural tours. The town has also invited skilled individuals to return to their hometowns for entrepreneurship, and has developed various industries including flower planting, fruit and vegetable cultivation, and koi fish farming.

A local flower seller promotes her flowers via livestream. [Photo by Ma Junliang/for chinadaily.com.cn]

By making the most of local resources, the town has created a distinctive leisure agriculture model that integrates flower viewing, fruit and flower picking, and other agricultural experiences.

In recent years, Qingyun county has regarded rural tourism as a crucial driver for the high-quality development of the tourism industry, said Zhang Xiukui, director of the county's bureau of culture and tourism.

Leveraging natural resources such as lakes, rivers, and wetlands within the county, the county has developed a series of unique and meaningful rural tourism routes, boosting the rural tourism economy, Zhang added. (Edited by Yang Yi)