A picturesque scenery of flowers in the Xinghua Qianduo Scenic Area. [Photo/WeChat account: xinghuafabu]
Xinghua, a region of abundant rivers and lakes in Jiangsu province, is continuing to write compelling new chapters in the integration of agriculture, culture and tourism.
The Xinghua Qianduo Scenic Area saw new record in visitors this year. Appreciating the area's canola flowers in spring and viewing chrysanthemums in autumn have become a renowned business card.
To avoid homogenization, the area this year has made use of the classic Chinese novel, The Water Margin (Outlaws of the Marsh), whose writer Shi Nai'an was born in Xinghua, and the Jiangsu Football City League to help transform tourism.
A farmer conducts crab farming. [Photo/WeChat account: xinghuafabu]
In addition to appreciating chrysanthemums, tasting crabs is another must-try activity. Xinghua is home to the largest river crab breeding base and trading market in the country, with 18,000 crab farmers and 300,000 people involved in the sector. One out of every ten hairy crabs raised in the country comes from Xinghua.
In addition, seizing the opportunity of being listed as a national historical and cultural city last year, the city is advancing the protection and renewal of historical and cultural blocks and ancient streets and towns.
In recent years, rural tourism has been gradually becoming more popular. With Dongluo village recently being included on the list of Best Tourism Villages by the United Nations World Tourism Organization in October, more villages in Xinghua are set to be included on tourists' travel lists in the near future.