Shanshui Yaocheng Scenic Area in Jinxiu County

　　【Shanshui Yaocheng Scenic Area in Jinxiu County】 is the first 4A-level scenic area in China that innovatively integrates a county town with Yao ethnic culture. Nestled in the Jinxiu River Valley within the heart of the Da Yao Mountain, Shanshui Yaocheng is a mysterious and enchanting world capital of the Yao people, serving as a window to promote global Yao culture and a center for showcasing Yao ethnic art and culture.

　　In recent years, focusing on the goals of “a beautiful county town, beautiful towns, beautiful villages, beautiful roads, and beautiful scenic areas,” Jinxiu County has invested a total of 150 million yuan in urban development for “mountain-city integration, ethnic styling, and park-like design,” as well as infrastructure construction. By integrating Yao ethnic cultural elements and architectural styles, the county innovatively developed the urban area (Shanshui Yaocheng) as the first open national 4A-level scenic area in Guangxi. It passed the on-site inspection by expert panels in late October.

　　At the same time, special emphasis has been placed on combining the creation of a Guangxi characteristic tourism county with initiatives for clean villages and eco-villages. The county has invested a total of 92.23 million yuan to pave, green, and beautify 122 villages. Among them, the Guzhan Yao Village in Changdong Township has been listed as a “China Characteristic Landscape Tourism Village,” the Jincun Village in Jinxiu Town as a “China Ethnic Minority Characteristic Village,” the Xiagu Chen Yao Village in Liuxiang Township as a “China Traditional Village,” and seven villages including Longteng Tun in Tongmu Town as “Guangxi Traditional Villages.” Multiple villages have also been designated as “Guangxi Green Villages” and “Eco-Villages,” bringing new vitality to many ancient and traditional settlements.

　　As an important water source forest area in the Pearl River Basin and a demonstration county for the Pearl River Basin shelterbelt forest, Jinxiu has consistently adhered to the principles of “building the county on ecology” and “thriving the county through tourism.” While protecting its lush mountains and clear waters, the county has vigorously developed characteristic planting industries. According to Tao Xuesheng, director of the county’s Agriculture Bureau, the tea planting area in Jinxiu has increased from 26,600 mu in 2011 to 47,000 mu this year, and the fruit planting area has reached 71,300 mu. “We aim to achieve the characteristic industry goal of ‘one mu of fruit per person for those living outside the mountains, and one mu of tea per person for those living inside the mountains’ by 2016, and to develop it into a distinctive agricultural agritainment and sightseeing experience belt, creating dual income growth from both industry and tourism.”