Wudang district expands rural summer retreat industry

Guiyang's Wudang district has developed its rural summer retreat industry in recent years by making better use of its ecological resources and idle rural homes. In 2025, the district had 604 rural accommodation operators, welcoming 83,000 visitor stays and generating 47.87 million yuan ($7.09 million) in tourism revenue.

More than 90 percent of Wudang is covered by karst landscapes, where farmland is often scattered into small plots. For years, Wudang's villages relied on small-scale farming with limited economic returns, leaving residents with few ways to increase their income. As a result, many young adults had to seek jobs elsewhere, leaving numerous rural homes vacant.

Taking advantage of its average summer temperature of around 23 C and forest coverage exceeding 60 percent, Wudang has transformed these unused homes into family-run rural retreats. The district has also expanded tourism offerings with hot spring therapy, camping, intangible cultural heritage craft workshops, and fruit-picking experiences.

Luori Xinghe Resort Hotel in Yangchang village. [Photo/Guiyang news network]

Since 2018, Zhai Renyu and her husband, Zhou Jianguo, from Chongqing, have returned to Yangchang village in Wudang every summer.

"We don't even need air conditioning here in summer," Zhai said. "The village has scenic spots and markets nearby, making sightseeing and shopping very convenient. The local people are also incredibly warm and welcoming."