Tourism booming in Shandong rural areas
- By Wang Yanfang
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China.org.cn, July 11, 2011
Regional visitors as well as tourists from around China are flocking to Shandong Province for fresh air and a taste of rural village life. Laiwu, a prefecture-level city in central Shandong Province, is the latest hot-spot in China's tourism boom.
Laiwu's countryside charm attracted 3 million tourists in 2010, generating 1.5 billion yuan (US $232.1 million) in revenue, officials said. At present, over 400 farmer households in Laiwu City accommodate tourists at 12 different scenic villages throughout the prefecture.
Di Jiecui, a farmhouse restaurant owner in Laiwu's Chengling Village, said Laiwu's tourism industry has never been better.
"If you don't book a table early, you can't get a seat," Di said, speaking of his restaurant's recent business.
The government of Laiwu has made great efforts to develop the city's rural tourism industry, providing 900,000 yuan ($139,000 USD) in local funds to improve infrastructure, visitor accommodations and other service facilities.
"The government makes us rich and we really appreciate it," Di said.
