Cyclists ride through Xiayang village in Anji. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Dual approach

Heritage tourism, once confined to urban museums and lifeless archaeological sites, is now thriving in Anji thanks to the fusion of culture and nature.

Anji Archaeological Park takes in the Anji Site Museum and Tombs of Yue Nobles in Longshan, major historical and cultural sites protected at the national level.

But beyond these relics there are also natural sites such as tea terraces, pine forests and farmland, to attract both history buffs and urbanites seeking an escape.

This combination of history and nature acts as a "living classroom" for curious young minds.

A study tour program organized by Anji Archaeological Park engages children in four activities: archaeological history, cultural heritage preservation, nature exploration and hands-on farming.

During the program, children stay at Suzhiyuan Shell Camp in the middle of tea fields. "It's collective living," said Zhuang Yuan, the study tour director. "The Shell Camp can host 100 children, and each room has bunk beds for six."

A bird's eye view of Xiaoyin Half Day Village in Lingfeng National Tourist Resort in Anji. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Activities such as examining ancient artifacts, tending crops in terraced fields, or observing ecosystems in pine groves, make use of the park's resources.

The daily capacity for study and tour groups that don't require lodging is up to 1,600, Zhuang said.

According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, rural tourism in the first quarter of this year drew 707 million visits nationwide, an 8.9 percent year-on-year increase. Revenue reached 412 billion yuan, with 7.12 million people employed in the sector.

"Rural tourism in Zhejiang is booming," said Wang Tonglin, head of the provincial Agriculture and Rural Affairs Department. "With farmers' markets, local cuisine, countryside homestays, and rustic landscapes, this is the dream our city folks long for — poetry and faraway land."