China Holds Rural Health and Wellness Tourism Event to Boost Integration of Agriculture, Culture and Tourism

Recently, the 2026 Exchange and Connection Event for the High-Quality Development of Rural Leisure Formats (Health and Wellness Tourism Category) was held in Mentougou District, Beijing, according to Guangming Net. With the theme of “Return to Rural Life, Enjoy Peaceful Healing”, the event focused on promoting high-quality rural leisure tourism routes for health and wellness, exchanging new changes in rural leisure experience economy against the backdrop of the rising silver economy, and advancing the in-depth integration of agriculture, culture and tourism.

Rural areas are increasingly becoming new spaces for people to maintain health, support the elderly, start businesses and live, according to China Rural Tourism News. In recent years, various regions have relied on rural ecological resources, pastoral scenery and characteristic culture to promote the in-depth integration of leisure agriculture with traditional Chinese medicine, health, elderly care and cultural tourism. A variety of characteristic experience scenarios such as forest health care, pastoral healing and agricultural health preservation have been created, enriching the rural health and wellness tourism formats and improving their quality.

The development of rural health and wellness tourism has also significantly driven farmers’ employment and income increase. “Rural areas are excellent spaces for meeting the health and wellness needs of the silver generation, but it is also necessary to accelerate the improvement of medical supporting facilities, service standards and professional talent training,” said Zhong Lina, a professor at Beijing International Studies University.

Hosted by the Department of Rural Industry Development (Department of Agricultural Products Processing Guidance) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the event focused on promoting 8 representative routes, including “Meet West Beijing, Blessed Mentougou” in Mentougou District, Beijing, and “West Bank of Dianchi Lake · Rural Slow Life” in Xishan District, Kunming, Yunnan Province, according to Guangming Net.

In addition to the 8 key routes, the event also displayed 157 high-quality rural leisure tourism routes for health and wellness recommended by various regions in recent years. These routes are characterized by excellent ecological foundations, profound cultural heritage, strong immersion and interactivity, fully demonstrating the unique charm of rural areas as “livable, health-preserving, tourist-friendly and enjoyable” places.

Detailed information about these high-quality scenic routes can be viewed on the “Xianyou Xiangli” (Leisure Tour in the Countryside) mini-program, providing convenient access for tourists to plan their trips. Industry insiders noted that such events play an important role in integrating rural resources, expanding the influence of rural health and wellness tourism, and helping rural revitalization through the development of characteristic industries.

The booming rural health and wellness tourism not only enriches people’s leisure and health options but also injects new vitality into rural development. It effectively connects rural ecological and cultural resources with market demand, laying a solid foundation for the sustainable development of rural industries and the improvement of farmers’ quality of life.