Waters bring wealth to residents

GUIYANG — As blistering heat scorches many parts of China, holidaymakers are flocking to cool places and water resorts. Shiqian county in Guizhou province fits that bill and better yet, it also has hot springs.

Nestled at the foot of Mount Foding, a designated national nature reserve with plentiful geothermal resources, Shiqian county is known for its superb hot springs, mineral water, and unsurprisingly, the longevity of its inhabitants.

In recent years, the county has tapped into these resources to boost its economy. Water parks, hot springs and cool weather are driving a tourist boom that lasts through the summer and beyond, while its mineral water is creating local industries and jobs.

Referring to this approach to development as "hot springs plus", county chief Zeng Yihui, said that Shiqian is working to make full use of its natural resources by focusing on its hot springs and mineral water.

Liao Kai, a tourist from Guangdong province, extended his family trip in Shiqian from two days to almost a week, because they were having so much fun.

This summer, the mountainous county has welcomed many tourists like Liao from all over the country.

During the day, visitors have fun in water parks and at night, hot spring pools provide a soothing way to counter fatigue.

Yelang Ancient Hot Spring, which is among the oldest in China, has been turned into a national 4A scenic spot, the second-highest rating in the five-level assessment system for scenic areas in China.

It now has 138 hot spring pools and a multifunctional water park, which can accommodate up to 6,000 visitors.

According to Liu Qiong, deputy director of Shiqian's hot spring management bureau, the county's hot springs contain many trace elements and are suitable sources of high-quality natural mineral water, and a cluster encompassing Yelang Ancient Hot Spring and other scenic sites has taken shape.

Be it in scenic spots, local eateries or hot spring hotels, commodities made with the water can be seen everywhere in Shiqian, among them bottled mineral water, toothpaste and liquid soaps.

Xinhua