Tourism-focused farms give Chinese city dwellers a break from urban life

 By 
Lili Sams
 on 
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

"Rural tourism" is big business in China.

In 2014, Chinese farms had more than 1.2 billion visitors, according to the

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 aren't 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 growing their own fruit and vegetables.

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