Huishan — Blossoming into peachy tourist venue

Traveling by train from the Wuxi New District Railway Station to Huishan Railway Station takes only 15 minutes. If you're not familiar with Huishan, you've probably heard of Yangshan honey peaches, which The Wall Street Journal once dubbed "the most delicious peaches in the world".

In recent years, Huishan, also part of the city of Wuxi in Jiangsu province, has undergone a significant transformation, evolving from its roots as the "Homeland of Honey Peaches" to a multidimensional tourist destination centered on its iconic fruit.

The transformation did not occur overnight. In recent decades, Huishan's Yangshan town has integrated its peach cultivation and sales operations with high-efficiency agriculture, sightseeing farms and visitor experiences.

Using its billion-year-old volcanic resources and vast peach orchards, the town created a pastoral integrated resort concept combining rural tourism, country living, wellness retreats and family vacations.

One example is the Yangshan Peach Blossom Festival, which began in 1997 and has grown into an annual celebration attracting thousands of visitors who come to admire the blooms and peaches and indulge in an ever-expanding array of peach-infused products. Now, the town welcomes over 2 million visitors each year.

Today, over 50 distinct businesses spanning eco-agriculture, cultural creativity, leisure, gastronomy, science education, wellness and outdoor adventures have established themselves here, collectively transforming the local economy from a single "peach" into an industry chain worth more than 1.6 billion yuan ($225.47 million).

Yangshan's scenic highlights include the peach island scenic park, which consists of peach-themed islands, gardens and more. Dongfang peach-oriented village provides field parks, rural living academies, agricultural exhibits and intangible heritage experiences.

Moreover, the 80-acre peach heart island camping base features bustling night markets, music stages and a variety of camping options.

Jiangsu province boasts more than homes of fruits and musical instruments. The classical gardens of Suzhou, which is also part of the loop line, are among China's most famous and exquisite blend of pavilions, ponds, rockeries and plants into one landscape. Wuxi's Taihu Lake region features the scenic area of Turtle Head Isle, with its lush mountains, ancient temples and traditional garden estates overlooking the lake's waters.