In late summer, the Weihui New Village in Fengshu Uygur and Hui Ethnic Township, Taoyuan County, located in the southwestern part of Changde City, is filled with the fragrance of lotus blossoms, the shadows of trees, and the scents of blooming flower seas. A quality improvement project for the Maple Grove Flower Sea scenic area, with an investment of up to 28.5 million yuan, is nearing completion, adding a new landmark and momentum to rural tourism in Taoyuan County in the future.
Photography by Li Jian
A Glorious Transformation from Animal Husbandry to Tourism
The Maple Grove Flower Sea scenic area in Taoyuan County is adjacent to Provincial Highway 226 and the Changde–Zhangjiajie, Changde–Changsha, and Changde–Jishou expressways. It is just 25 kilometers away from the famous Taohuayuan Scenic Area, offering convenient transportation. The site also houses the former residence of the renowned educator Jian Bozan, the mausoleum of Hala Bashi, a general from the early Ming Dynasty, and a mosque with a history of over 600 years, reflecting profound historical and cultural heritage. The area where the scenic spot is located is the largest Uygur settlement outside of Xinjiang and the birthplace of the Jian clan of Uygurs, often referred to as the “Second Hometown of the Uygur People in China.”
Five years ago, this was just an ordinary rural village making a living through animal husbandry, no different from any other small rural town. In 2013, Weihui New Village tentatively planted several hundred acres of flower fields, venturing into rural tourism development, which attracted visitors who lingered to admire the blossoms. In just a few short years, Weihui New Village brilliantly transformed from animal husbandry to tourism, thanks to the foresight of local leaders and the hard work of residents. In 2013, Maple Grove Flower Sea was rated as a national 3A-level tourist attraction, and in 2017, it passed the landscape quality assessment for national 4A-level tourist attractions, being included in the preliminary list of national 4A-level scenic spots.
Photography by Liu Liwei
Investing 28.5 Million Yuan to Strive for National 4A Status
Today’s Maple Grove Flower Sea is a vibrant sea of flowers, aiming for national 4A-level status. In December 2017, the scenic area began a nine-month quality improvement and upgrade project for 4A status, with a total investment of 28.5 million yuan. The upgraded Maple Grove Flower Sea will be divided into seven major zones: the New Maple Grove Flower Sea Landscape Area, Parent-Child Kitchen Area, Entertainment and Play Area, Agricultural Experience Area, Red (Party Spirit) Education Area, Uygur Ethnic Culture Area, and Special Performance Area. Among them, the Maple Grove Flower Sea Landscape Area will include colorful flower fields, plum blossom gardens, crape myrtle gardens, cherry blossom gardens, crabapple gardens, rose gardens, azalea gardens, and a flower sea maze. The Parent-Child Kitchen Area will feature 24 cooking stoves and a pond. The Entertainment and Play Area will offer activities such as grass sliding, a viral swing bridge, water obstacle challenges, the Luding Bridge assault, water play on both banks, a tire playground, and a children’s amusement park. The Agricultural Experience Area will include a hundred-fruit orchard, DIY vegetable plots, and farming experience fields. The Red Education Area will feature the former residence of Jian Bozan. The Uygur Ethnic Culture Area will mainly consist of a Uygur specialty snack street, a mosque, and the Hundred Jian Wall. The Special Performance Area will host various performances at different times, including circus acrobatics, stunt motorbike shows, high-altitude extreme wheels, and water walking acts.
The upgraded Maple Grove Flower Sea is set to reopen on September 16. At that time, the new Maple Grove Flower Sea will become a comprehensive tourist destination integrating sightseeing, interactive entertainment, specialty dining, and educational experiences. It is bound to become another new calling card for rural tourism in Taoyuan County, shouldering the dual mission of developing all-for-one tourism and building beautiful countryside, and serving as a strategic move in Taoyuan County’s rural revitalization strategy.