About a three-hour drive away from Zhuangzimao, Heimu village of Heshui county, Qingyang, has leveraged its picturesque landscape featuring lush forests and distinctive farming to woo travelers seeking natural beauty, authentic rural experiences, and innovative agricultural-tourism integration.

Locals have developed a series of unique experiences, such as feeding deer, wild boars and ostriches, camping under the stars at a vast meadow campground and farm-to-table dining at an eco-farm.

"These small attractions have not only brought in tourists but also boosted the local economy," says Wang Baobao, a local villager.

During holidays, those spots have been bustling with family travelers, he says.

Meanwhile, local delicacies such as buckwheat noodles and stewed chicken are in high demand, delighting visitors and increasing villagers' incomes, Wang says.

At the Heimuya eco-farm, several new projects have been up and running, including a visitor service center, a traditional handicraft workshop area, a shared dining space, cave-style homestays, a parent-child experiences-themed farm, and a parking lot.

"These developments will enhance our tourism capacity and provide a better experience for visitors," Wang explains.

At the rural tourism development index launch event in Beijing, Sun Ruijuan, a senior index R&D official at China Economic Information Service, highlighted the resilience and growth of Gansu's rural tourism sector.

In 2024, both visitor numbers and tourism spending passed pre-pandemic levels, increasing by 38 percent and 63 percent, respectively, compared to 2019.

Pan Haiping, chairman of the China Economic Information Service, notes that Gansu stands as a vivid example of China's rural vitalization efforts and a pioneer in green development.

The impressive growth in rural tourism reflects the province's commitment to ecological protection along the Yellow River Basin and its practical actions toward comprehensive rural vitalization, Pan says.

Contact the writer at yangfeiyue@chinadaily.com.cn