Rural tourism is big business in China. In 2014, Chinese farms had more than 1.2 billion visitors, according to the China Tourism Association. That is up from more than 900 million visitors in 2013, which generated $4.7 billion in revenue.
To put the popularity of farm tourism in perspective, that accounts for about a third of all holidays in the country, Mashable reported.
Farms offer residents of China’s biggest metropolises a refreshing break from urban life, while giving rural populations the chance to earn a decent living.
“The ultimate goal is to help farmers increase income, ensure agricultural products’ quality and safety, and increase urban resident’s happiness,” Jiang Hongfang, chairman of the Beijing Entertainment Farming and Agri-Tourism Association, told China Daily.
And rural views are not the only draw to these farms: In areas around big cities like Beijing, farms are also offering leisure and tourism activities. Many of the larger farms include theme park rides, hotels, conference venues, and wedding and spa facilities.
Some farms even allow urbanites to rent land to grow their own fruit and vegetables.
