A town in Shenyang City, northeast China's Liaoning Province, has attracted visitors with a unique blend of agricultural tourism and a range of creative activities.
Covering an area of 1,550 mu (about 103 hectares), the vast land of rice fields is an agro-tourism project by Xibo Ethnic Town in the city's Shenbei New Area.
In August, the landscape transforms into a sea of lush green as the rice paddies enter the heading stage, creating a picturesque rural scene.
Visitors can take a small train along a 2,800-meter track to admire the boundless green landscape or get off at each stop to have different experiences.
The perfect viewing point is located at Lanmeng Tower with a observation deck of 27 meter high, where visitors can admire the 15 rice paddy artworks created with nine different edible colors.
"Every picture we see has gone trough a demanding process from creation to final planting. This year, the largest rice paddy artwork is the one behind me, called the 'beauty of mountains and rivers' covering nearly 90 mu (six hectares)," said Zhang Wanting, the scenic area manager.
A paddy-side cafe offers refreshing rice-based treats, such as ice cream and lattes, allowing visitors to savor the local flavors while enjoying the gentle breeze in rice fields.
The Shenbei New Area is one of the major settlements of the Xibo ethnic group in China. By showcasing the rich Xibo culture and integrating it with agricultural tourism, Shenbei New Area is creating a sustainable model for rural revitalization.
Creative agro-tourism gets popular among tourists in northeast China
