Wudang district: A cool retreat amidst summer's heat

A homestay in Yangchang town. [Photo/WeChat account of Wudang district]

Yangchang town in Wudang district, Guiyang, has a pleasant average annual temperature of 13.5 C. Although it's only May, the town's popularity as a summer retreat is already high.

Even during the off-season, the occupancy rate for summer resort accommodations in Yangchang village, located in Yangchang town, exceeds 60 percent, and the rooms are expected to be fully booked by mid-June.

Hu Yang, a tourist from Wuhan, capital of Central China's Hubei province, had already booked a room at Qingfeng Xiaozhu Inn in Yangchang village on March 22, planning to bring her children to Wudang for a summer retreat in early July. In addition to her own family, she has also brought 53 other guests to Qingfeng Xiaozhu Inn.

"Every year, many elderly tourists come to our inn to escape the summer heat. If a guest's birthday happens to fall during their stay, we gather other guests to celebrate with a birthday party. Additionally, if the seniors want to visit other tourist attractions, we will help them plan their trips in advance," said Wang Baimin, the owner of Qingfeng Xiaozhu Inn.

Even village and town authorities cater to the preferences of summer retreat tourists, primarily retirees who enjoy activities such as singing, dancing, calligraphy, painting, and tai chi. They have organized a series of targeted and personalized activities, including field concerts, ensemble performances, dance shows, courtyard square dancing, and bonfire parties. These efforts aim to create a sense of warmth, liveliness, and belonging for tourists.

According to statistics, in 2023, Yangchang town hosted 4,362 summer retreat tourists, with 94 percent coming from outside the province, generating over 20 million yuan ($2.76 million) in revenue. Among these tourists, 83 percent were over the age of 50, and 85 percent were either repeat visitors or new guests brought by previous visitors.

Currently, Yangchang town has 63 inns with a total of 1,150 rooms. This year, 31 new inns are undergoing renovations and installation of living facilities, and they are expected to open by July.

Moving forward, the town will enhance the sojourn tourism industry in three ways. First, it will actively seek to attract tourists from nearby cities outside the province. Second, it will increase the supply of accommodations by encouraging and guiding villagers to join the sojourn tourism industry. Third, it will improve and strengthen public cultural offerings and enhance services in transportation and healthcare to elevate the experience and quality of guests' stays.