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."