Pingnan boosting tourism

( chinadaily.com.cn )

Updated: 2015-05-14

Officials investigate Siping opera.?It is still being practiced today at Longtan village, Pingnan county.?The opera?has been passed on from generation to generation within the Chen clan since the late Ming Dynasty(1368-1644).?[Photo/Min Dong Daily]

Pingnan is striving to spur tourism. In 2014, the national 5A Baishuiyang Scenic Spot received at least 3 million tourists, with revenues of 2.02 billion yuan ($325.22 million), the Min Dong Daily reported.

Pingnan disapproves of economic development at the cost of environment. It insists in the combination of exploitation and protection.

The local government pays attention to ecological protection around scenic spots and encourages farmers to grow off-season vegetables.

The county’s forestland area has reached 1.69 million mu (112,667 hectares), accounting for 75.7 percent of the total land area. The broad-leaved forest, with an area of 8,200 hectares, has developed into an eco-tourism destination.

Additionally, Pingnan invested over 15 million yuan in protecting key cultural relics. Meanwhile, it makes great efforts to preserve local folk art and skills, including Pingjiang opera, originated in Pingnan and popular in the northeast of Fujian.