Tourism festival highlights charms of rural Pingyao

Hengpo village in Pingyao county is an ancient village with well-preserved historical sites and dense woods. [Photo/pingyao.gov.cn]

Pingyao opened its second rural culture and tourism festival in Hengpo village on July 11, showcasing the charms of rural life to visitors.

The festival aims to educate visitors about Hengpo village –– which has residential buildings from the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties –– and promote rural tourism.

A light show illuminates Hengpo village at night. [Photo/pingyao.gov.cn]

Various themed activities, such as lantern shows, fruit picking and Jinju Opera, have been organized to entertain tourists and promote interesting vacations in the countryside.

Hengpo village has been developing its tourism industry in recent years by improving local infrastructure and protecting historical sites. In 2015, the village received more than 40,000 tourists, representing year-on-year growth of 30 percent. In recent years, rural tourism has become a new engine for economic growth, creating more jobs for residents in the village.