Tourism industry raises local incomes, improves lives in rural Guanyang

Authorities in Guanyang county in South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region have turned to rural tourism to help residents lift themselves out of poverty and improve their social welfare, all on the back of the county's own rich history, culture and natural environment.

Jiangkou is one village in the county taking advantage of rural tourism, and has already witnessed an increase of 10,000 yuan ($1,475) in the village's income in 2019.

Utilizing its history and culture, the village has promoted several scenic spots, including the former residence of Tang Jingsong, a political figure in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and founder of Guangxi Opera, and Guanyang ancient town, as key attractions for visitors.

The village has also held traditional cultural activities and sporting events, such as an agricultural tools culture festival and a national mountain outdoor sports competition.

Not purely relying on tourism, Jiangkou also generates income from growing pears, to which it has 80 hectares of land dedicated. The village has integrated its pears into its tourism making them a feature for promotion to rural sightseers.

Strategies such as the integration of rural agriculture with tourism are the result of improved infrastructure such as hotels and catering services, and tourism management facilitated by the local government.

Xiaolong village in Guanyang county is another village that has great potential to develop its tourism industry as it is home to an academic workstation of Yuan Longping, China's "father of hybrid rice".

With a subtropical monsoon climate, adequate sunlight and rainfall and good air quality, Guanyang was honored by Yuan as "the county with highest yield of super hybrid rice in Guangxi".

In 2019, the county cultivated 8,000 hectares of super hybrid rice, yielding 78,000 metric tons that year, according to Guanyang's agriculture department.

Guanyang county is working hard to develop rural tourism and leisure activities centered around the famous academic workstation.