By Yuling Chen, iChongqing News

Chongqing - 520 new leisure spots along 83 routes released in Chongqing recently, for tourists to get some chill in the hottest season, like experience harvesting, appreciate flowers, go sightseeing, fishing, research travel, and enjoy the folk culture, etc. The Chongqing Municipal Committee of Agriculture and Rural Affairs held a press conference on the 2019 Summer Countryside Tourism Routes and launched the 83 boutique routes, July 18, 2019.

Wansheng Heishan Valley or Black Valley (Photo from Wansheng Tourism Development Commission)

“This year, the Chongqing area is suitable for summer tourism, especially the traditional summer resorts that are built in the high mountains and have special features,” said Gao Xinming, member of Working Committee and deputy director of the Chongqing Municipal Committee of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. He added that tourists could learn about the specific routes on the website.

Better countryside traveling experience

Fairy Mountain in Wulong, Chongqing

Generally speaking, this year's summer routes feature in six aspects, including the continuous improvement of the rural environment, the smoother rural information, the increasing brand popularity, and the continuous optimization of the industrial structure.

"This year, the citizens will be able to experience a more beautiful rural environment by taking a cool summer vacation," Mr. Gao said, adding that in the township there was 947-kilometer sewage pipe network built and additional 179 hectares of greening in the village public places in the first half of this year.

In addition, various activities are waiting for visitors to explore and enjoy. There are more than 50 large-scale celebrations of fruit picking and rural leisure launched by many districts and counties. For example, Fengdu County will hold seven festivals such as the 2019 Fairy Lake Town Peach Picking Festival, and the Dazu District will hold five festivals, including the Grape Tourism Culture Festival.

According to statistics, in the first six months of this year, the number of tourists for leisure agriculture and rural tourism exceeded 100 million, and the comprehensive tourism income was 39 billion yuan (about 5.67 billion US dollars).

Recommended places with different themes

If you want to hide from the summer heat, good choices include Simian Mountain in Jiangjin District, Heishan Valley and Ordovician Theme Park in Wansheng District, and Mowei Mountain in Pengshui County.

The waterfall with heart-shape at Jiangjin Simian Mountain

As for fruit-picking tours, grapes in Meixingyuan vineyard of Jiulongpo District and Wuxiaoping vineyard in Banan District, as well as plums in Wushan County, may probably impress your taste buds.

Wushan crispy plum (Photo by Liu Bo)

Folk culture can be explored and experienced at the Diaoyu Fortress of Hechuan District and ecological experience parks in Fuling District.

Diaoyu Fortress (Diaoyucheng)

In addition, flower appreciation is also a popular choice during summer, for example, lotus tourism festivals in Dazu, Tongliang and Yongchuan districts.

Lotus in Dazu Rock Carvings scenic area

Last but not least, pastureland in Chuanhegai grassland of Xiushan District, and fishing base in Fenjiancun Village of Fengdu County.