Yanhu Village in Fangxiang Town, Hanjiang District, Yangzhou City (CFP Photo)

Jiangsu released 30 rural travel routes across the province’s 13 cities on September 29 ahead of the National Day holiday.

The recommendation was jointly made by the province’s Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and Department of Culture and Tourism.

Pingyuanchi Village in Chengbei Subdistrict, Rugao City (CFP Photo)

In recent years, the province has launched several initiatives to improve the living environment in the countryside including protection of traditional villages and renovation of rural households.

The 30 routes feature diverse attractions including cultural legacy, landscape, specialty food and family-friendly amenities, and allow tourists to choose from 144 villages recognized in the initiative. Most villages in the routes are close to cities, making them ideal destinations for weekend or short-term visits.

The 30 routes highlight Taihu Lake and Grand Canal, the geographical and cultural icons of the province, and integrate the best natural, historical, cultural and agricultural resources.

A WeChat miniprogram for the routes has also gone live to provide information of the tourist attractions such as parking and accommodation.