TIME Magazine spotlights Aranya as 2024 gem

The seaside community of Aranya in Qinhuangdao, Hebei province, was recently listed by TIME Magazine as one of the world's greatest places in 2024.

The Aranya community, about 2.5 hours from Beijing by high-speed rail, is luring young Chinese visitors with its minimalistic design and otherworldly serenity, according to TIME's article on July 25.

Yang Zhenning, a director of the community, explained that Aranya was constructed in 2013 and now covers more than 300 hectares along the Bohai Sea.

"Our core concept is that life can be more beautiful," Yang said, adding that the community has heavily invested in its space and architecture design.

"We have invited outstanding designers from around the world to create a spatial system of high aesthetic, spiritual, emotional, and functional value, constructing buildings such as hotels and restaurants within the community," Yang said.

He added that about 80 percent of the community's tourists come from Beijing, with some also coming from various places across China, such as Guangdong province, Shanghai, and Tianjin.

Local statistics showed that from January to June this year, the community received 1.37 million visits. The community experienced two consecutive weeks of rainy days in July and still received 352,000 visits, which is roughly the same as the same period last year.