Early summer is the best time to visit the luxuriant mountains in Youxi county, central Fujian, which is also known as the hometown of Zhu Xi, a Confucian master in the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279).

However, the county presents a nice tourism destination all year round, with rich biodiversity in its 64 percent forest coverage and a warm and moist subtropical climate.

The ancient gingko forest at Zhongxian township, in the southeast of Youxi county, is the largest in Fujian province. [Photo/Fujian Daily]

In recent years, the county has started to exploit its rich tourism resources, including unspoiled natural landscapes and rich cultural legacies.

It developed 10 nation-level tourism brands and 21 provincial ones, including gingko forests in Zhongxian township, terraced fields in Lianhe township and Jiufu Mountain nature reserve in the southwest of the county.

Macrocosm or the integration with primary and secondary industries has been the focus in the county’s tourism development. A variety of tourism options, ranging from sightseeing farms, featured homestays, to wellness centers and pilgrimage tours, are on offer in Youxi.

Sightseeing farms that feature tea plantations, fruit groves and herbal medicine cultivation are especially popular. While tourism options blending culture, country life or study programs are becoming new hot spots.

The county attracted more than 1 million visitors in 2016, growing significantly from 305,000 in 2011. Tourism revenue increased from 185 million yuan to 620 million yuan.

In the first quarter of 2017, the county received 415,000 visitors, a year-on-year growth of 28.9 percent, with tourism revenue reaching 256 million yuan, up 31.2 percent from 2016.