(Photo by Yu Ping/Xinhua Daily)

Jiangsu Province launched its 16th Rural Tourism Festival in Guilin Village, Liyang City on March 22.

The province’s key rural tourist destinations will host 258 events across four categories: outdoor sightseeing, family-orientated educational tours, sports, and healthcare. The launch ceremony also highlighted 56 travel routes that maximize the potential of rural tourism resources.

During this year’s festival, road trip associations from Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui will collaborate to host events. The Jiangsu Provincial Drama School will offer immersive opera experiences at its Tianmu Lake campus, including performances, cultural exhibitions, and workshops on makeup and costumes.

Currently, 60 of Jiangsu’s villages and towns were recognized as national-level rural tourism destinations. In 2024, Jiangsu’s key rural locations welcomed 138 million visitors, generating tourism spending of 44.87 billion yuan.