Tourism brings prosperity to residents near forest park in NW China's Shaanxi

Tourism at Niubeiliang National Forest Park in the Qinling Mountains has brought wealth to residents nearby and lifted many of them out of poverty, according to a local official on Wednesday.

Meng Ruyi, deputy director of the Culture and Tourism Bureau of Zhashui county in Northwest China's Shaanxi province, said of some 500 farm stay business participants in the county, about 300 are near Niubeiliang National Forest Park, a natural reserve and 4A scenic spot in the country.

"The take-off of tourism in the park in recent years has greatly boosted the income of residents nearby, as the average annual revenue of each farm stay business near the park reached 200,000 yuan ($28,680) last year," he said.