Apricot blossoms bring tourists to Hohhot

An apricot tree in bloom, Horinger county, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia autonomous region. [Photo/saibeinews]

Qi Tianfu has recently been busy preparing food for visitors who have reserved their lunch via telephone since the end of March.

“Our village is presently holding the fourth apricot blossom festival, attracting a large number of tourists,” said Qi.

The festival will last until April 23, he added.

Qi's house is in Taigedou village in Horinger county, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia autonomous region. The 8,000 mu (533 hectares) of apricot trees in the village date back more than 200 years and the tourists they attract to the area have brought new wealth to the local residents in recent years.

In 2016, Taigedou village improved facilities and services in a bid to develop rural tourism.

It also organized the apricot blossom festival and pick-up festival, while encouraging local people to open up their homes to local tourists.

As more and more visitors come to see the flowers, the financial benefits to local residents grow.

Last year, Qi's farmhouse earned annual revenues of more than 200,000 yuan ($31,760), nearly seven times the previous year.

During the peak season, the village received more than 10,000 visitors a day, according to Yun Peng, Party branch secretary of the village.

“The booming tourism industry also triggered an increase in sales of local specialties, such as eggs, millet, buckwheat and dried apricots,” said Yun.

With the focus on fruit picking and leisure, the village plans to further the development of rural tourism by establishing a residential area, a picking area and sightseeing area.

It is committed to pursuing the deeper integration of tourism, agriculture, forests and animal husbandry so as to help lift more people out of poverty.