Spring Blooms Ignite Rural Tourism: Vibrant Scenes in Guokeng and Xiong'an

FUZHOU & XIONG'AN, April 11 – As spring paints the countryside in vibrant hues, rural tourism in Guokeng Town, Longwen District, Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province, has been thriving, with blooming flowers and upgraded leisure spaces attracting numerous visitors. Meanwhile, in Matihuan Village, Xiong County, Xiong'an New Area, Hebei Province, thousands of mu of pear blossoms have entered their full bloom, boosting rural revitalization through integrated agriculture, culture, tourism and sports.

In Guokeng Town, bougainvillea blooms brightly along rural roads, swaying gently in the spring breeze, while Chinese roses and hydrangeas climb up walls, echoing the painted patterns on the surfaces to form a charming scene. Tourists linger to capture these beautiful moments with their cameras, according to China News Network. Beyond flower viewing, the town has made full use of idle resources in recent years, completing ecological renovation of 15 mu of abandoned riverside slopes and successively building characteristic leisure spaces such as hot springs, outdoor tea houses and open-air rest areas.

The hot spring resources in Huangqing Village, Guokeng Town, have become a major highlight. With a water temperature of about 63 degrees Celsius and borax water quality rich in beneficial trace elements, the hot spring has been developed into an experience hall through a tripartite cooperation model of "government + state-owned enterprise + village", covering hot spring health preservation, homestays and camping, said Cai Junpeng, person in charge of the Huangqing Yougu Hot Spring Experience Hall. "The number of visitors has exceeded expectations, and we are planning to expand the venue to improve reception capacity," he added.

Chen Da, person in charge of the cultural and tourism project in Guokeng Town, Longwen District, introduced that with the launch of new formats and scenes in the spring of 2026, the passenger flow on weekends and holidays has quadrupled year-on-year. The town has also explored the "sports + cultural tourism" model, holding rural revitalization running events that connect ecological and cultural attractions, driving the prosperity of local catering, accommodation and agricultural product sales.

In northern China, Matihuan Village in Xiong County is immersed in a sea of pear blossoms. Covering more than 10,000 mu, the "Ancient Lake Pear Bay" presents a stunning ecological picture, attracting tourists from all over the country and serving as a "beautiful engine" for rural revitalization, as reported by CCTV News. The local area has dug deep into the cultural heritage of the Baiyangdian River Basin, integrating rural folk customs and intangible cultural heritage with rural tourism through the "pear garden +" model.

The ongoing 4th Xiong'an · Xiongzhou Cultural and Art Festival has added more vitality to the pear blossom viewing experience. With 8 activity venues and nearly 100 events, the festival allows tourists to enjoy the beauty of pear blossoms while experiencing intangible cultural heritage displays and skill competitions, noted People’s Daily. This integrated development model has not only enriched tourists’ experience but also driven local farmers to increase their income by selling characteristic agricultural products and providing homestay services.

In Guokeng Town, the integration of flower viewing, hot spring leisure and cultural experiences has activated the rural economy, benefiting more than 500 local villagers through employment and business opportunities. In Matihuan Village, the blooming pear blossoms have turned ecological resources into economic advantages, helping the village take a solid step on the path of rural revitalization, with the per capita annual income of villagers increasing by 12% last year.