Once-isolated Jiunyufeng now a popular tourism spot

A village is nestled at the foot of Taishan Mountain in Tai'an city, Shandong province. YUAN KEZHONG/FOR CHINA DAILY 

In the summer's scorching heat, Jiunyufeng township, located at the foot of Taishan Mountain in Tai'an, Shandong province, presents a blend of lush greenery and cool air.

The winding roads lead through the township's 19 villages nestled among the hills covered by lush trees, making the once-isolated rural enclave a popular tourism site.

Just a few years ago, these villages faced common challenges such as poor transportation infrastructure and barren land. Young people preferred to leave their homes to work in cities, resulting in the villages struggling to retain their population.

Leveraging the abundant forest resources of Taishan Mountain and its pristine environmental conditions with high negative oxygen ion content, Tai'an city is developing natural and tranquil projects that are conducive to health. This strategy has led to the development of homestays and tourist attractions in Jiunyufeng to provide visitors a place to enjoy rural green life.

The local traditions, particularly tea growing, have also enriched the rural tourism industry. At a creek valley in the area, rows of tea plants adorn the mountainside.

"We have fostered an industry chain encompassing tea growing, processing and tasting, as well as educational tourism," said Wang Zhaoxiang, a manager of a tea plantation in the township.

The tea industry has enriched local farmers' incomes, he added. "Farmers can grow tea and sell their tea to us. They can also choose to work at our tea garden," said Wang, adding a farmer can earn a daily income ranging from 120 yuan ($16.54) to 150 yuan by picking tea leaves.

Not far away from the tea valley, Beizhang village stands out with hand-painted artworks adorning its walls. The once inconspicuous village has changed into a colorful countryside bursting with artistic expression.

The homestays and murals have vitalized Beizhang, once a provincial-level impoverished village that is now a popular destination for tourists. "I never expected my idle small house to be changed into such a nice homestay," said Wang Kaiyin, a resident of Beizhang.

With the support of the town government, Wang renovated a part of his house into a homestay. His homestay has retained its old wooden structures, providing tourists a chance to relish the original rustic charm. At the same time, it is also equipped with modern amenities to make tourists more comfortable in the house.

By developing the tourism and health industries, including leisure tourism, sightseeing agriculture and healthcare residences, Jiunyufeng has attracted over 20 commercial entities to develop in the area.