Clouds lingers amidst hills, while mist lingers over tranquil streams.

A drizzling rain makes Fuding Chixi Village in Ningde UNESCO Global Geopark Taimushan Park permeated in the misty rain. Numerous tourists immerse themselves in the beautiful landscape.

Good ecology and freshness is the symbol of Chixi Village. Over 30 years ago, it was also well-known in China for its poverty, thus gaining the name of "China's Poorest Village".  

The Butterfly Park there attracts many tourists

Adversity leads to prosperity. Driven by the scenic area and incorporated in the development circle of Taimushan Tourism, Butterfly Park, Bamboo Rafting, Field CS, Water Slide and the implementation of many other projects have sped up the development of rural tourism them and as a result, Chixi has shaken off poverty and revitalized its economy. In 2016, the rural per capita net income and village fiscal revenue of Chixi Village amounted to RMB 15,696 and 500,000. Therefore, it has made dramatic changes.

Chixi Village became the only one among villages in eastern Fujian included in 2017 Top Villages with the Greatest Influence in China released recently. Such a ranking embodies the charm of the current Chixi.

The change of Chixi marks a vivid miniature of poverty alleviation through tourism and boosting rural revitalization by Ningde UNESCO Global Geopark.

In recent years, Ningde Tourism Development and Reform Commission and Ningde UNESCO Global Geopark Management Committee have kept down-to-earth in practicing the development concept that "green mountains and blue waters are all valuable treasures", closely combined part development with rural revitalization and targeted poverty alleviation based on the park's beautiful ecological environment and diversified tourist resources, adjusted measures according to local conditions and took different measures for different villages and vigorously developed rural tourism in an attempt to become wealth through local tourism. As a result, a rural revitalization path with distinctive Ningde characteristics has been developed paired with poverty alleviation through tourism. Development of the scenic area brings wealth for both villages and villagers. The win-win outcomes are highly praised by people through folk activities--

Give full play to the "leading industry" in the whole region"

Ningde is endowed with beautiful landscapes integrating mountains, sea, rivers and islands, unique She culture, tea culture, ancient culture and red culture, etc., and thus enjoys abundant tourist resources. The most striking one among all others there is Ningde UNESCO Global Geopark.

Ningde UNESCO Global Geopark includes "Qianshui Square" Pingnan Baishuiyang, "Celestial City in the Sea" Fuding Taimushan and "Pothole World" Fu'an Baiyunshan. Dominated by magnificent and spectacular mountainous landscape of geode granite and diversified riverbed erosion landform and also matching with such waterscapes as waterfall and deep pond, coastal islands and marine abrasion landform, the park is endowed with unique and different landscapes and becomes popular owing to these landscapes. 

Martial arts performance by farmers showed in Baishuiyang.

In recent years, Ningde UNESCO Global Geopark has adhered to the idea of sustainable development, made reasonable development while implementing scientific protection, and also made overall and strenuous efforts in development. Internally, the park has made planning and guidance, been project-driven, kept improving traffic, public toilets for tourists, tourist signage, tourist service center and other infrastructure in the park to improve service level and render an assured and satisfactory tour for all tourists. Externally, the park has given full play to the brand-driven role of the three core parks and included the development and reconstruction of surrounding scenic areas together for overall and whole-region development, demonstrating the "leading effect".

Sound tourism development lies in brand popularity. In recent years, Ningde Tourism Development and Reform Commission and Ningde UNESCO Global Geopark Management Committee has kept making new brand marketing modes. First, they have made the "going out" policy to go to Jiangsu and Zhejiang, Shanghai and Guangdong to vigorously promote tourist resources, demonstrate wonderful landscapes in Ningde and expand source markets. Second, they also made the "bringing in" policy. According to this policy, they have developed detailed plans for investigation and experience activities and invited insiders of major source markets to visit eastern Fujian and enjoy its beautiful natural landscapes and cultural customs. Meanwhile, seven Ningde UNESCO Global Geopark Culture & Tourism Festivals and sustainable development seminars have been held. Top tourism experts, geological experts and other experts in China have been invited to exchange outcomes and share experience and also provide suggestions and opinions for sustainable development of Ningde UNESCO Global Geopark.

As a result, the park has been improved, brand promoted and tourists satisfied. Headed by Ningde UNESCO Global Geopark, the whole city's tourism industry has seen steadily rising development. According to estimate, in 2017, the city received over 26.72 million tourists, a year-on-year increase of 21%, and achieved RMB 25.3 billion of tourist income, increased by 30% year on year. The year marked an excellent and fruitful year for the city!

Benefiting local economy.

Villages in the region, surrounding villages and populations in financial difficulties share the bonus of tourism development, which represents the firm initial position of Ningde UNESCO Global Geopark. In fact, in the initial development stage, the park has included villages and population there in its development blueprint for joint development.

According to information, Ningde UNESCO Global Geopark, covering an area of 2,660km², covers 8 districts (counties and cities), 46 towns, 547 administrative villages and about 1.37 million residents. In 2017, there were 15,100 residents in financial difficulties.

Planning first. In close combination with the park's development planning, efforts have been made to contact with well-known planning and design team in and out of the province and carry out tourism planning and public support activities in one village one product and precise positioning manners. So far, the compilation of special rural tourism plans for nearly 30 villages including Xiaoliyang Village, Gantang Town, Pingnan County and Muyun County, Fu'an City.

Facility improvement. "Eight actions" for poverty alleviation through rural tourism have been carried out. Over RMB 20 million of special funds for rural tourism development of the city has been granted after proactive efforts. Further, development of tourist projects, relocation, whole-village advancement and other means have enabled the improvement of such infrastructure as water, power facilities, roads and toilets in the park. As a result of the above, residents' living environment and rural tourism conditions have been perfected. 

Baiyunshan Grape Valley in Xita 

Integral publicity. Rural tourism of the park has been included in the tourism promotion plan of Ningde. For instance, tourism promotion, activity planning, and tourist route design have all fully integrated and demonstrated all rural scenic area, culture, gourmet and other elements of villages in the park and She Singing Party on March 3, Peach Flower Festival, grape picking and other activities have been held, attracting tourists to go to and enjoy pleasures in rural areas.

Assistance through projects. Strong support has been provided for development of such industries as ecological leisure sightseeing agriculture in villages, underwood planting and cultivation and edible mushrooms planting; villagers have been actively guided to take part in tourist services, open rural inns, guesthouses and shopping malls, develop white tea, dried bamboo shoots and other tourist souvenirs. As a result, their income sources are increased including mountain farming, farming experience, restaurant and accommodation and tourist products. At the same time, vigorous support has been given to find new rural revitalization and poverty alleviation ways through "government + farmer cooperatives + farmers", "government + enterprises + farmers + all-for-one tourism", "tourism + Internet + traditional industry" and other cooperative means.

Benefitting local residents.

Peach blossoms amidst deep mountains herald the upcoming spring.

Ten miles peach blossoms from the mountain top to the mountain foot in Ningde UNESCO Global Geopark Fu'an Baiyunshan Park in the spring of 2017 can still bring back the beautiful memories of numerous tourist so far.  

Ten-mile land of peach blossoms in Baiyunshan Park

Driven by the scenic area, along the landscape avenue in Baiyunshan, Hutou, Xita, Yulin, Nanshan and other characteristic She villages blend into one, leading to the most beautiful village corridor in Fu'an and also linking the beautiful scenery.

"After over 30 days of sales of glutinous rice cakes, we tow brothers have got over RMB 10,000 net income.!" The increased income during slack season of agriculture made Wu Qingquan, a villager from Hutou, very happy and satisfied.

"Over 2,000 meal orders from tourist teams in only one blooming period kept us rather busy!" said happily Wu Shucan, an owner of a rural inn.

Only during the "Peach Flower Festival", this piece of landscape received over 600,000 tourists, up over 20% on a year-on-year basis. The blooming peach blossoms in Baiyunshan are so beautiful and bring huge wealth for local resident!

While making the region more beautiful, local residents are getting better off. The above is just several examples among numerous villagers and villages benefiting from the poverty alleviation projects in Ningde. So far, 8 leisure market towns for rural tourism, 71 characteristic villages, 33 star-level rural tourism sites, 22 waterside fishing villagesm 15 forest parks and 16 forest households have been set up in the whole city. Chixi Village, Fuding, Hutou Village, Fu'an, Jixia Village, Pingnan Nanshan Village, Fu'an and other meticulously developed typical villages for poverty alleviation through toursim are rising in picturesque eastern Fujian, showing great vigor and vitality.

Data convince all. Driven by the sustainable development of Ningde UNESCO Global Geopark, the city received 5.3419 million tourists for rural tourism, up 25.3% year on year, and achieved RMB 3.219 billion of income from rural tourism, an increase of 29.7%. Business units engaged in rural tourism in the whole city provide 20,000 direct jobs and 193,600 indirect jobs and help farmer increase income by RMB 448 million in total.

Catch dreams amidst fresh landscapes and make dreams come true in eastern Fujian. The wise rural revitalization path through natural scenery will help eastern Fujian enjoy a promising future!

(From: http://www.investnd.gov.cn)