Anhui Village Transforms Centuries-old Tea Gardens into Booming Rural Tourism Destinations

Xinhua News Agency reports that Luxi Village in Jingde County, Xuancheng City, Anhui province, has achieved remarkable industrial upgrading through in-depth integration of ecological tea resources and rural cultural tourism. The historic local tea plantations have evolved from traditional crop production bases into popular scenic spots, unlocking new ecological and economic value for rural development.

Nearly 1,000 mu of terraced tea gardens spread across the mountain slopes of Luxi Village. First built in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the tea plantation resources once relied solely on tea sales for economic returns. In recent years, the local area has optimised extensive tea garden management modes and completed comprehensive facility upgrades. Circular walking paths, tea houses and other supporting facilities have been constructed to build the distinctive “Sky Tea Garden” landscape, forming a unique ecological tourism landscape integrated with mountain scenery.

Centering on the Sky Tea Garden resource, Luxi Village has built a complete scenic area and enriched diverse cultural and tourism business formats. Tourists can stroll through orderly arranged tea terraces for sightseeing and photography. Leisure spaces including village coffee shops have been put into operation, providing comfortable venues for visitors to taste local tea and casual drinks. Modern space capsule homestays have been built near the tea gardens to offer high-quality rural accommodation experiences. The innovative homestay products maintain high occupancy rates and are fully booked during holidays.

The tea tourism integration model has completely reversed the village’s economic situation. Before 2016, the annual collective operating income of Luxi Village remained below 30,000 yuan. With the continuous maturation of rural tourism development, local ecological resources have been fully converted into industrial advantages. In 2025, the village received 45,000 tourist visits and generated 1.45 million yuan in tourism revenue.

The industrial transformation shifts the village’s development focus from single agricultural product sales to comprehensive ecological tourism operation. It maximises the ecological value of traditional tea gardens and drives the integrated development of catering, accommodation and leisure industries. The continuous improvement of rural tourism infrastructure and service systems will further release the potential of ecological rural tourism, fueling sustainable growth of local rural economy.