County travel craze sparks tourism market potential

Over the years, hotels, camping sites and recreational programs have been created to spice up travelers' experiences. "They can drink coffee while taking in the rapeseed flowers, as well as appreciating art exhibitions and taking pictures against interesting backgrounds we prepare for them," Li said.

The Anji operation opened in 2018, and received a surge of travelers during COVID-19, as more tourists from big cities opted for short-distance travel due to health safety concerns, Li said.

The company added a commercial street and an animal farm last year to better cater to travelers' demands.

Last year, the company raked in more than 100 million yuan ($13.85 million) in tourism revenue.

"City travelers love their stay here, because the experience is different and it is relatively cheaper," Li said, adding that the county is close to nature and offers easy access to outdoor activities, such as rafting in the summer and skiing in the winter.

Most of the travelers are families interested in the parent-child activities arranged by Li's company.

The Anji site received about 5,000 visitors a day during the May Day holiday. "Although our rooms were fully booked, the travel flow remained the right amount, with no traffic jams," Li said.