Exploring the Integration of Agriculture, Culture, and Tourism: Xinfu Township in Shunqing District Develops a New Model for "Day-Trip to the Suburbs"

On March 20, Xinfu Township in Shunqing District, Sichuan Province, hosted a media tour to explore its innovative model for "day-trip to the suburbs." Media representatives visited various sites, witnessing picturesque landscapes, rich rural charm, vibrant folk cultures, and exciting rural experiences.

Located in the northwest of Shunqing District, Xinfu Township is only 8 kilometers away from the urban area, with convenient transportation. The Guangnan Expressway, Nanchong Second Ring Road, and Gaoxin Avenue pass through the township, and the Xih River Riverside Road leads directly to the town center. The township boasts a forest coverage area of 26,000 acres, natural landscapes such as the Xih River, Qipingzhai, and Sifangzhai ("one river and two villages"), and numerous dining and accommodation spots like Xih River cycling paths, Taoli Chunfeng, and Si Fang Min Su. Local specialties such as Sifang peaches, Fuxing pears, and Tongren free-range chickens are highly praised. The beautiful scenery, clear waters, and hardworking people form a common beautiful picture in Xinfu.

Qiping Xigu Guesthouse. Photo courtesy of Xinfu Township.

In recent years, Xinfu Township has closely followed the "1353" strategy of the district committee, focusing on the development goals of "a benchmark for rural revitalization, a demonstration of cultural and tourism integration, and a backyard garden for the city." It has learned from the "ten thousand experiences" to create a "whole-area scenic spot," implemented industrial empowerment for agricultural travel, formed alliances to attract tourists, and innovatively hosted "four major activities." Together, they have promoted the "So close, so beautiful, enjoy happiness in Xinfu on weekends" cultural and tourism brand, boosting the comprehensive upgrade of local agriculture, culture, and tourism.

Visitors to Qipingzhai and Sifangzhai villages in Xinfu Township will find peach and plum blossoms in full bloom, fresh air, and a well-preserved ecology. The scenic area is surrounded by mountains, with wooden boardwalks winding through them, and the Xih River flowing quietly.

According to a person in charge of the Qipingzhai scenic area, the area has unique natural ecological landscapes and historical and cultural resources of ancient military strongholds. It is one of the key rural tourism spots developed by Shunqing District and has become a popular "internet-famous" spot for camping, sightseeing, and paragliding experiences for city dwellers. In the future, the area plans to introduce new business formats, such as building cliff hotels, to attract tourists from within and outside the city.

Visitors can also find a series of boutique homestay areas like Mumu Courtyard, Qiping Valley, Qiping Cloud Valley, and Si Fang Min Su. These homestays connect various scenic spots in Xinfu Township, allowing tourists to enjoy dining, entertainment, walking, cycling, and flying experiences along this route.

"We mainly offer private cuisine. During major holidays, we require reservations a week in advance," said Ms. Gou, who previously ran a clothing business and returned to her hometown in 2019 to create Mumu Courtyard, which employs 6 to 8 people. "We focus on the fish pond and offer experiences such as dining, entertainment, and cycling. Basically, a whole family can spend a whole day here," said Ms. Luo, the owner of Qiping Cloud Valley. "We have introduced 14 horses from Shandong and Inner Mongolia and have created 3 km, 5 km, and 10 km cycling experiences along this mountain path," said Mr. Tang, another owner of Qiping Cloud Valley. They plan to introduce new projects such as "catching pigs by hand" to ensure that visitors have a great time.

Overlooking Qiping Cloud Valley. Photo by Xinfu Township.

How can Xinfu Township better tap into the social, economic, and experiential values of its beautiful landscapes to meet the common prosperity needs of tourists and local residents and business owners, and develop a new model for "day-trip to the suburbs"? The main person in charge of Xinfu Township said that following the work approach of "demonstration leading, point-to-area expansion, connecting points into lines, and radiating to the whole area," Xinfu Township continues to implement the "day-trip to the suburbs" initiative. It is working hard to create a batch of model villages for livable, employable, and beautiful rural areas, such as Sifangzhai and Qipingzhai villages. It is also upgrading the "three major fruit gardens" of Sifang pear orchard, Sifang peach orchard, and Sifang tangerine orchard, extending the chain to expand the "four major bases" of Si Fang Min Su, Si Fang Farm, Si Fang Fishing Garden, and Si Fang Expansion. It is also building two new highlights: Sifang Cloud Top and Si Fang Farm. The township supports cooperation between enterprises to form a tourism alliance association, which will take the lead in overall planning and create "day-trip" guide maps based on local conditions. It will guide business owners to develop collectively, complementarily, and competitively.

From natural resources to industrial integration, from homestay economy to common prosperity practices, Xinfu Township has used the "golden key" of integrating agriculture, culture, and tourism to open a new door for rural revitalization. (By Yi Qinghai and Tang Min)