Ecological Fishery and Tourism Industries Boom in Lirang "National Health Town"

Chongqing - Lirang Township, 15 km from Liangping's urban area, thrives as a rural tourism hub. Recognized as a "Municipal Rural Revitalization Experimental Demonstration Town" and "National Health Town," it epitomizes prosperity and rural charm.

The town has taken advantage of its pristine natural environment nestled beside the reputed oxygen bar of Mingyue Mountain, where the Longxi River meanders across the land from its source towards the Yangtze. Furthermore, national and provincial highways run throughout the territory, providing modern infrastructure to drive economic development.

Ecological fish ponds are scattered elegantly across the pristine countryside of Chuanxi Village, with forests, trails, homes, and farms intertwined amongst them (Photograph/Xiang Chengguo)

In recent years, Chuanxi Village, from inside the township, has focused on a design plus concept to build a desirable living environment where industry and culture thrive. Among the numerous popular attractions include the homemade bean paste famous in the Bayu region and the picturesque sight of ecological fish ponds extending far across the lands. Presently, Chuanxi is home to the only fishery-themed agricultural science and technology park in Chongqing.

There are roughly 544 acres of fish ponds in Chuanxi Village, which are elegantly intertwined amongst the farmland, roads, forests, rivers, ponds, and houses in a unique scene of rural charm. Stood beside a small tower in the village, a picture scroll of incredible sights came into view, including leisure country trails, the Longxi River, famed among the ten most beautiful in Chongqing, and even the first musical road in the municipality.

Chuanxi also enjoys a profound historical and cultural heritage, including the Laizi Drums, listed at the national level and eight more recognized at the municipal level. In order to protect this heritage and attract tourism, the village has taken multiple innovative steps to build cultural squares, bookstores, exhibitions, and other platforms to display performances of intangible cultural heritage performances. These have combined to integrate rural traditions and modern life, launch exciting mass cultural activities, and improve the sense of gain and happiness among residents and the public alike.

The fishery industry in Chuanxi Village has broken the 100 million yuan mark in annual sales value (Photograph/Liangping Publicity Department)

Fishery and heritage industries boom

Industry in the village has focused on green development based on aquaculture and soybean processing. The Chuanxi Fishery Park has become a core demonstration base for major projects of the Ministry of Science and Technology and is the most extensive pollution-free commercial fish base in Chongqing, as well as a healthy aquatic breeding demonstration base. The annual output of fresh fish has reached 15,000 tons, with a value in excess of 150 million yuan. 

Meanwhile, Lirang handmade bean curd has a history of more than 800 years, and the current annual production capacity has reached around 1,000 tons, with an output value of 30 million yuan. This has driven per capita disposable incomes in Chuanxi Village to over 30,000 yuan, while for the past three consecutive years, they have also been selected as a national rural characteristic village with an industry exceeding 100 million yuan. 

Modern infrastructure has gone hand in hand with ecological protection to make Lirang Township a popular destination for rural tourism (Photograph/Xiong Wei)

In the next step, Chuanxi Village will continue to follow the experience of other national provinces in rural construction and vigorously implement a rural revitalization strategy based on design empowerment and the integration of beautiful countryside, digital countryside, shared wealth, human culture, and good governance.