Road along Chishui River becomes tourism hot spot

A road along Chishui River in Chishui, Southwest China’s Guizhou province, has become a tourism hot spot.

The Chishui River Road is flanked by the Danxia landform (steep red sandstone cliffs).

The road was developed in 2016 to boost tourism and involved a total investment of 4.5 billion yuan ($671 million).

Also, the local government then shut down a group of polluting and energy-guzzling plants in the area. And many river sections were treated to improve water quality, with the local flora and fauna plants and historical sites protected during the development.

The river road now runs 160 kilometers from Guizhou’s Maotai town to Chishui’s downtown area. And it has cycling lanes, rest points, sightseeing platforms and stone sculptures.

Many sports events have been staged in the area since the road’s inauguration.

On April 6, cross-country cycling and canoeing races for business school students were held covering more than 20 scenic spots, including a former campsite of the Red Army and a national forest park.

“It was the best experience I’ve had,” says Hu Che from University.

Hu was impressed by the river valleys, fresh air and beautiful landscape he encountered during the races.

To date, the road has integrated culture, industry, health preservation elements and increased local income. Nanjing

Speaking about the road, Zunyi Culture and Tourism Group’s deputy general manager Li Tingjuan says: “It (the road) is like a chain embedded in the Chishui river bank, connecting all the scenic spots along the way.”

The road saw about 200,000 visitors in the first half of 2018, says Li.

Meanwhile, some formerly unknown attractions have gained popularity since the road opened.

And the tourism has also encouraged locals to start up agri-tainment businesses or sell bamboo works and paper umbrellas as souvenirs.

Xie Nana and her husband used to work away from their home near Chishui River.

But they decided to open a small restaurant when they heard the local government was aiming to turn the road into a tourism hot spot.

Now, her restaurant is often been fully booked and can earn her family an annual income of 300,000 yuan.

After Chen Hongjun stops and parks his bike by the roadside, he takes out his mobile phone and snaps pictures of the natural scenery along Qinglyu Road, which translates as lovers’ greenway in Chinese, in the southern metropolis of Zhuhai.

“I cannot help taking photos when I see such beautiful scenery,” says Chen, a cycling enthusiast.

In addition to the subtropical scenery, beaches, blue sea, palm trees, and a statue of woman fishing, the road also gives you a view of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge that was officially opened to traffic last year, according to Chen, who cycles there every weekend.

Chen, a local resident, says he put his photos on his WeChat moments to tempt more friends to join him on the beautiful greenways.

The Qinglyu Road has now become a major scenic spot in Zhuhai, in Guangdong province that borders Macao. And pictures taken along the 28-kilometer-long coastal road are a must for newlyweds. As a result, many couples are now found having their wedding photos taken along the road during the day and taking a walk hand-in-hand at night.

“Cycling along the greenway is one of my favorite choices for exercise and leisure during weekends and holidays,” he says. And Chen is not alone.

Huang Hsu Fong, a Taiwan resident who was granted a temporary residence permit for Zhuhai recently, also frequently cycles along the greenways in the city.

“The Qinglyu Road greenway is one of my favorite routes when I am in Zhuhai,” says Huang.

Xiao Chunying, the secretarygeneral of the Zhuhai Bicycle Sports Association, says that in addition to enjoying the beautiful scenery when cycling along the city’s greenways, the sport can also help cyclists meet people and understand Zhuhai’s culture and history.

Xiao says she and her husband have been riding their bikes to every corner of Zhuhai since 2011.

“Previously, I knew Zhuhai only as a prosperous special economic zone. But after cycling along the city’s greenways, I now know that Zhuhai actually has many historical sites, former residences of celebrities and ancient villages.”

According Xiao, her association has organized many cycling events along the city’s greenways in recent years, and that has helped promote the city’s cycling culture and attract more locals to become cycling enthusiasts.

The Zhuhai Tourism Development Center says the greenways provide ideal spaces for leisure, recreation and outdoor events, and help further boost the city’s image, playing a big part in promoting the city’s tourism industry.

According to the Zhuhai Bureau of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the city had a total of 1,098 kilometers of greenways and 58 service centers at the end of 2018. And the city’s greenways network link more than 380 scenic spots and parks in the city. Huang Jiewen contributed to this story.

PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY