Chongqing — A former nearly dried-up alpine pond in southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality has been transformed into a mountain wellness destination, as local authorities tap ecological resources to boost rural tourism and revitalization.
The Wancun Yunxianchi Wellness Retreat Camp in Baiyun Township, Wulong District, officially opened on Aug. 1, with a summer camping music festival held to mark the launch. The site, located at an elevation of 1,320 meters, attracted visitors seeking cooler temperatures and outdoor experiences.
Guests attend the opening ceremony of the Wancun Yunxianchi Wellness Retreat Camp in Baiyun Township, Wulong District, Chongqing, on Aug. 1. (Photo/Organizer)
Surrounded by forests with a coverage rate of 90%, the retreat features more than 800 mu (about 53 hectares) of karst stone forest landscapes and panoramic mountain views. Visitors can enjoy lakeside hiking trails, wooden cabin stays, water sports, forest wellness experiences and camping activities.
The area was once a nearly dried-up mountain pond due to aging water infrastructure that affected water storage capacity. In recent years, Baiyun Township has developed rural tourism projects by leveraging its high-altitude ecological resources as part of its rural revitalization efforts.
The project was jointly developed by Baiyun Township and Chongqing Wancun Cultural Tourism Group under a partnership model involving a village-owned company and a leading enterprise. The village collective’s Yunshang Youli company worked with private capital to invest nearly 11 million yuan (about $1.5 million) in ecological restoration, infrastructure upgrades and the transformation of the former barren mountain area.
The retreat now includes lakeside walking paths, wellness and leisure platforms, sightseeing trails, wooden cabin accommodations, a central stage, an artificial waterfall and water recreation facilities. It aims to create an integrated destination combining ecological tourism, summer recreation, hiking and rural stays.
Visitors cool off and take part in water activities during the opening event. (Photo/Organizer)
During the opening ceremony, organizers held activities including rural tourism cooperation agreements, agricultural product marketing partnerships and outdoor hiking alliance exchanges. Visitors also took part in mountain hiking, forest wellness programs and a starry-sky camping music festival.
A Baiyun Township official said the once-abandoned mountain depression and alpine pond has become a new source of income for local residents. Through a benefit-sharing mechanism combining guaranteed dividends and a share of operating revenue, the village collective will receive annual guaranteed income of at least 20,000 yuan, along with additional revenue-sharing benefits.
The project is also expected to make better use of idle forest and land resources, create local employment opportunities, support rural dining businesses and promote sales of specialty agricultural products.
Baiyun Township plans to further develop nearby ecological attractions, including karst stone forests, caves and the Hulu Bao area, while improving infrastructure such as roads and parking facilities. Authorities aim to build an integrated wellness tourism model combining sightseeing, rural accommodation and health-oriented services, turning ecological advantages into sustainable economic opportunities for local communities.