Jiangxiang Rural Tourism Scenic Area

Jiangxiang Rural Tourism Scenic Area

Jiangxiang Rural Tourism Scenic Area is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a cultural tourism destination.

Jiangxiang Village, a shining pearl of the Jiangnan water towns, is located in the southeast of Changshu City, Jiangsu Province. It is adjacent to the Sha Jia Bang Red Tourism Scenic Area and is surrounded by major expressways such as the Suzhou–Jiaxing–Hangzhou, Yanjiang, and Suzhou Ring Expressway. It takes just three minutes to reach the expressway, and National Highway 204 and Xitai First-Class Highway intersect through the town area, making the tourism transportation conditions very convenient.

In December 2017, it was honored in the Top 300 Influential Villages List of 2017. On July 28, 2019, it was selected as one of the first national key villages for rural tourism.

Jiangxiang Village is situated in the Yangcheng water network region at the junction of Changshu, Kunshan, and Taicang cities, within the Sha Jia Bang water town. It borders Shanghai to the east, Kunshan to the south, Suzhou to the west, and Changshu to the north. The village has 186 households and a population of over 800, covering an area of approximately 3 square kilometers. It has been recognized as a National Civilized Village, an Advanced Village in National Civilized Rural Construction, one of the Top Ten Flagship Villages for Well-Off Construction, a National Model Village for Rural Modernization, a National Demonstration Village for Democracy and Rule of Law, a Jiangsu Provincial Civilized Village, a Sanitary Village, a Top Hundred Eco-Village, a Circular Economy Demonstration Village, a Demonstration Village for Democracy and Rule of Law, and a Habitat Environment Model Award recipient.

Over 40 years ago, Jiangxiang Village was a poor, remote, and isolated place plagued by "light rain bringing endless mist, heavy rain turning fields into lakes," infertile land, snail fever (schistosomiasis), and poor living conditions. The land was fragmented, ditches were muddy, and most villagers lived in mud-walled, thatched cottages. Comrade Chang Desheng, a delegate to the 16th CPC National Congress, National Outstanding Communist Party Member, National Model Worker, National Township Entrepreneur, National "Entrepreneurial Star," and Secretary of the Village Party Committee, held firm to the belief that "poverty is not rooted forever, and wealth is not innate." With the determination that “the sky cannot be changed, but the land can,” he led with unyielding perseverance and a wholehearted dedication to serving the people. By uniting and striving, being pragmatic and innovative, working hard, and dedicating himself, he guided Party members, cadres, and villagers along a scientific development path of "building the village on agriculture, prospering it through industry, and boosting it with tourism." He upheld the socialist direction to achieve a strong village and wealthy people, and common prosperity; insisted on keeping pace with the times to continuously innovate the construction of the four civilizations; adhered to the scientific development concept to walk a new path of harmonious development between people, nature, and the environment, as well as coordinated economic and social progress; focused on economic construction as the core, consolidated the foundation of agriculture, developed the mainstay industry, supported the private economy, attracted foreign investment, expanded joint ventures, and promoted the rapid growth of the main economy. Social programs accelerated, the quality of life and happiness index of villagers significantly improved. In 2010, the village’s total economic output reached 1.2 billion yuan, with the main industry's output and sales exceeding 1 billion yuan. The per capita GDP remained above 20,000 US dollars for ten consecutive years, and the per capita income of villagers exceeded 22,000 yuan (excluding collective welfare and villa subsidies). The per capita dividend from community stock shares reached 5,000 yuan.

The village manages over 1,000 acres of pollution-free, high-quality grain and oil production bases through intensive farming, mechanized cultivation, standardized production, and ecological planting. A comprehensive low-carbon project of "storing grain in the fields" has been fully implemented to ensure the quality and safety of grain and oil yields. An ecological breeding park has been established, supporting large-scale breeding specialists and developing diversified operations. Based at the Jiangxiang Ecological Park, and positioned as a new socialist countryside, the area leverages the collective honors of a National Civilized Village, a National Agricultural Tourism Demonstration Site, and the personal reputation of Secretary Chang Desheng. Investments have been made in constructing scenic spots such as the Village History Exhibition Hall, Jiangnan Farmhouse Folk Museum, Agronomy Museum, Jiangxiang Library, Youth Science Popularization Museum, Practice Base Central Building, and Farming Practice Areas. Additional facilities include a three-star Jiangxiang Hotel, resort, fishing platforms, fruit-picking areas, amusement zones, animal viewing areas, student social practice bases, paintball shooting ranges, as well as commercial trade and parking services. These developments support tourism services and leisure entertainment. The area promotes tours such as new countryside construction study trips, eco-pastoral sightseeing, farmhouse fun experiences, agrarian culture experiential tours, and youth social practice visits. It receives over 100,000 visitors annually.