Yayougou Ecotourism Area

Yayougou Ecotourism Area

Yayougou Ecotourism Area is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

The Yayougou Modern Agricultural Ecotourism Project, invested and developed by Shandong Yayougou Tourism Development Co., Ltd., has a planned total investment of 450 million yuan. Relying on the old Yayougou village and Yayougou Reservoir, the project covers an area of approximately 3,000 mu, with over 2,100 mu planted with various fruit trees, flowers, and seedlings such as chestnuts, walnuts, hawthorns, and prickly ash, more than 1,700 mu of economic forest belts, and a greening rate of 95% on barren hills. Surrounded by mountains on three sides and facing water on one, the area boasts beautiful scenery, outstanding people, and a pleasant environment. The local residences are nestled against the mountains and by the water, scattered in an orderly fashion, with simple and unsophisticated folk customs and a strong rustic charm, making it a typical representative of ancient northern villages. Adjacent to the Linshu-Lanzhou Expressway and National Highway 206, and close to Lanling County, the project enjoys a superior geographical location and very convenient transportation, possessing unique tourism resource advantages.

The planning and construction of the project follow the principles of "protection first, rational layout, and moderate development," aiming to create an original ecological rural tourism and leisure resort. Based on the geographical features and current economic development of Yayougou Village, and following the timeline of historical development, the project strives to use "time travel" as the main theme to authentically recreate the economic, cultural life scenes, and aspirations for a better future of the rural mountain people in our Lanling area during important historical periods. The overall project is divided into five distinctive zones according to different eras.

On the northernmost side of the entire project, utilizing naturally formed ditches, water systems, and winding rugged mountain terrain, four terraced water landscapes have been created to enrich tourism resources and attract more visitors. In the area upstream of Wolong Bridge, with an antique style as the main theme, establishments resembling Northern Song Dynasty architecture such as distilleries, teahouses, and eateries have been built. The uniquely themed Sun Erniang Tavern has been set up, along with an ancient stage, and an exhibition of eighteen kinds of weapons such as swords, spears, axes, and forks, all for traditional local opera, acrobatics, martial arts, and tea art performances, striving to restore the bustling and lively life scene of the rural mountain people in Lanling during the Northern Song Dynasty.

From the southern side of the North Mountain field to the area around Bridge No. 2, the rural life during the People's Commune period is representatively depicted. By deeply exploring the cultural relics and remains from the People's Commune era, and making full use of existing old houses, a People's Commune Canteen capable of accommodating many diners has been constructed, supplemented with iconic displays such as the "Three Red Banners" and "Quotes from Chairman Mao," accompanied by revolutionary model operas, to create the living atmosphere of those special years, evoking memories of the hard yet passionate past. Local popular and affordable specialty snacks such as sour paste tofu banquet and Yayougou farmhouse fried chicken have been developed to meet diverse dietary needs. Traditional manual crafts rooted in the land have been excavated, and small workshops with distinctive rural characteristics that require low investment, yield quick returns, and can help lead fellow villagers out of poverty have been developed—such as hand-ground stone mill pancake shops, breweries, vinegar workshops, oil mills, and bean sprout and tofu workshops. These not only provide employment for villagers and increase income but also meet the daily needs of tourists and surrounding consumers.

Leveraging Yayougou Reservoir, the project showcases the socio-economic development of Lanling's rural areas in the early stages of reform and opening up. Making full use of the natural advantages created by the mountain fields and water bodies, facilities such as waterside homes, leisure bars, and music teahouses for visitors to relax have been developed. Vast bamboo forests have been planted, and the growth space of reeds has been protected and expanded, striving to create a rural life scene with the characteristics of the Jiangnan water towns. Against this backdrop, the happy times of the rural mountain people in Lanling are presented, who, inspired by the Party's reform and opening-up policies, live contentedly with boundless hopes for a better future. At the same time, a serene and comfortable environment is created for tourists to stroll through the bamboo forests, paddle on reed lakes, pursue greenery, and return to nature, achieving a fusion of natural ecology and cultural landscapes. On the western side of the reservoir in the Xiaomai Mountain field, a large hotel with comprehensive service functions has been built, integrating dining, accommodation, and leisure entertainment, supplemented by activities such as fishing and waterfront leisure sports to provide visitors with multifunctional and comprehensive services. A comprehensive exhibition hall has been planned and built to showcase traditional farming culture, folk culture, and new agricultural science and technology achievements, as well as other items such as root carvings, potted plants, mahogany furniture, and calligraphy and painting art. Additionally, a public calligraphy and painting creation room has been set up, equipped with the Four Treasures of the Study, allowing visitors to wield their brushes and express their sentiments when inspired.

On the eastern side of the southern section of the main road leading into the Yayougou scenic area, in the areas of Shimuzi and Xiaofang, the achievements of modern agricultural development are prominently displayed. Plans are made to upgrade the existing simple vegetable greenhouses, constructing professional temperature-controlled fruit and vegetable planting greenhouses with strong resistance to natural disasters, high standards, and high quality. Leveraging the annual Lanling International Vegetable Industry Expo, the planting scale will be continuously expanded, the level of agricultural science and technology will be enhanced, and efforts will be made to develop green ecological agriculture. Eco-friendly planting gardens, picking gardens, farmhouse stays, and agricultural experience activities that are fresh, natural, and well-received by tourists have been developed, allowing visitors to observe and experience, meeting consumers' demand for green, environmentally friendly, fresh, and delicious fruits and vegetables, while also increasing the added value of agriculture.

Relying on Shangyuan Village’s Dragon King Pond Reservoir and mountain fields, a modern farm has been created to depict the blueprint of future farm life and showcase the idyllic rural life of Lanling. Winding streams flow through the mountain fields and grasslands in this zone, shaded by greenery, with old houses, ancient trees in front of and behind the houses, and herds of cattle and sheep quietly grazing in the pastures. There are also European-style villas, garden houses, windmills, swings, and horseback riding fields, along with self-service kitchens, self-service restaurants, and coffee shops, offering delicious food and fine wine, creating a naturally beautiful and infinitely wonderful space for visitors to live freely, unwind, and enjoy themselves.

Yayougou Village is a key poverty alleviation village in Shandong Province and was selected as a national tourism poverty alleviation pilot village in 2015. The Yayougou Ecotourism Project has been listed as a key tourism development project of the city. Centering on the prominent theme of "targeted poverty alleviation," and fully considering factors such as helping poor households escape poverty and supporting the development of village-level collective economies, the project has been well executed to drive development, providing one-on-one assistance. Currently, Yayougou Village has a permanent population of over 265 people, with 64 identified as key poverty alleviation targets. Adhering to the principle of flexible job placement based on suitability—whether for business, industry, or agriculture—we strive to absorb more local farmers into employment through the development of the tourism industry, better attract comprehensive consumption in tourism shopping, catering, entertainment, and transportation services, increase farmers' income, and enable them to live happy lives for generations to come.