Rural cultural tourism heats up in Xiuwen

Over 3,000 mu (200 hectares) of pear trees in Zhexi village, Xiuwen county, are now in full bloom as spring arrives, blanketing the mountains and fields in a sea of white. This has attracted many people for spring outings, flower viewing, and photo-taking, boosting local rural tourism.

Pear blossoms are in full bloom. [Photo/website of Xiuwen county]

"This is my first time visiting Zhexi village. It's incredibly beautiful here. Strolling and taking photos among the pear blossoms is such a romantic experience," said Fan, a tourist from Guiyang.

Zhexi village is about 10 kilometers away from central Xiuwen, with a pleasant climate. Its main agricultural products include kiwifruit, pears, and vegetables, with more than 7,000 mu of kiwifruit orchards, over 3,000 mu of pear orchards, and more than 500 mu of vegetable fields. The village began developing its rural tourism industry in 2003 and now boasts three homestays and 21 rural inns. It attracts around 1,200 summer tourists from Chongqing and Guangdong each year, with a total tourism income of about 3 million yuan.

Beautiful pear blossoms in Xiuwen. [Photo/website of Xiuwen county]

"In the past, most visitors were individual tourists. Now that the pear blossoms are in full bloom, there have been more road trips and study tour groups," said Li Feng, a Zhexi villager. "Many tourists come to dine in our village after visiting nearby Yangming cultural relics. My homestay receives about 6,000 tourists a year, bringing in over 300,000 yuan annually."

The village plans to further integrate resources, strengthen infrastructure maintenance, and improve its rural environment, becoming a leisure resort for family, fruit-picking, and summer escape tours.

Beautiful flowers bloom by the lake. [Photo/website of Xiuwen county]