Azaleas' allure

The forestry district's deputy Party secretary, Liu Qijun, says plans for a highspeed railway and highway system are under consideration. It may soon take less than five hours to reach the destination from Beijing and other cities.

"Shennongjia is considered a treasure trove of wildlife that's renowned for its botanical diversity. In addition to the beautiful azaleas, it's also an important habitat for such rare animals as Chinese giant salamanders, golden snub-nosed monkeys, clouded leopards and Asian black bears," he says.

It received over 13 million travelers, generating a revenue of 4.7 billion yuan ($745 million) in 2017, a 20 percent year-on-year increase in both visits and revenue.

Tourism is expected to continue to boom during the May Day holiday, Liu says.