Rural Pingyao thrives with tourism

File photo: a view of Hengpo village during the summer rural cultural festival in 2021. [Photo/Jinzhong Daily]

The 8th summer rural cultural festival of Hengpo village in Pingyao county, North China's Shanxi province, opened on July 13. 

The festival, hosted by local authorities and lasting until Aug 12, aims to present the cultural activities of locals in a more captivating manner, showcase the unique charm of traditional ancient villages, and promote rural vitalization as well as the village's tourism brand. 

During the monthlong festival, tourists can enjoy the beautiful countryside, learn about local cave-dwelling culture, and visit ecological manors. They can also appreciate large-scale lantern and light shows, taste delicious local cuisine, and stay in modern cave dwellings, enjoying comprehensive rural experiences.

Hengpo village has been listed among the fourth batch of Chinese traditional villages by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development. It has also been designated a national beautiful leisure village and a key village for rural tourism. 

In recent years, Hengpo has focused on cultivating and expanding its tourism industry as the main source of increasing farmers' income. It has developed a circular industry and has made attempts to strengthen its collective economy. 

By integrating its advantageous resources and hosting cultural and tourism events such as the aforementioned festival, the Hengpo International Photography Festival, and various lantern festivals, the village has developed into a shining star of rural tourism in southwestern Pingyao.

Since the launch of the first summer rural cultural festival in 2016, Hengpo has received more than 2 million tourists, with tourism revenue exceeding 40 million yuan ($5.57 million).