In recent years, Guidong County has strengthened the ecological industry based on its advantageous resources such as green mountains and clear waters.

 

In the first half of the year, the GDP of Guidong County increased by 5.2% year on year, and the per capita disposable income of urban and rural residents rose by 4.0% and 6.5% year on year respectively.

 

 

 

From January to July, the fixed asset investment, industrial added value above designated size, and total social retail sales grew by 5.9%, 9.4%, and 6.4% year on year respectively.

 

As of the end of August, a total of 1.362 billion yuan has been secured for funding projects, achieving 80.6% of the annual target. 1.481 billion yuan has been invested in ten key municipal projects, accounting for 89.7% of the annual plan.

 

In the scorching summer with a temperature of nearly 40 ℃, it is still cool in Guidong County, making it a good place for people to escape the heat.

 

 

 

With an average altitude of 900 meters, Guidong has the highest average altitude in Hunan Province. The average summer temperature is 23 ℃, and the comprehensive ranking of air quality index has remained first in the province for six consecutive years. In the hot summer, this county has become the first choice for self-drivers and the elderly in Changsha, Hengyang, Guangzhou and other places to retreat from the heat and relax themselves.

 

During the summer season every year, Guidong County organizes a series of activities, including evening performances, calligraphy and painting exchange, Red stories telling, and Tai Chi training, in order to enrich the lives of tourists.

 

Places such as Qingzhu Village, Jindong Village, Qiuli Village in Oujiang Town as well as Baizhu Village and Shuiwan Village in Zhaiqian Town where homestay inns gather have taken measures to promote the integrated development of cultural tourism and wellness, enhance tourists’ cultural experience, let them feel the enthusiasm and hospitality of Guidong people, so as to improve their experience and sense of happiness during their trip in Guidong.

 

 

 

Since the beginning of this year, scenic areas such as Wanyang Mountain, Qing’e Mountain, Qiyun Peak, and Zhiqing Xiaozhai in Guidong have further improved their quality, with more complete supporting facilities and richer tourism forms. The main scenic areas in the county received over 10,000 tourists during peak hours this summer.

 

There are now nearly 1,000 homestay inns in the county with over 20,000 beds available. 23,000 tourists stay overnight in Guidong every day during the peak season, and homestay inns in the county and surrounding areas are often fully booked.

 

In the first half of the year, Guidong County received a total of 1.1607 million domestic and foreign tourists, with a total tourism revenue of 1.327 billion yuan.

 

There are 1,246 kinds of wild medicinal plants in Guidong, including 109 national key protected varieties. “Guidong Monk Fruit” and “Guidong Huangjing” have been approved as national geographical indication products.

 

 

 

At present, the planting area of traditional Chinese medicinal herbs in the county has reached 250,000 mu (about 16,666.67 hectares), with an annual yield of 30,000 tons and an output value of about 1.32 billion yuan.

 

In the fourth national general survey of Chinese medicinal resources, a total of 849 kinds of medicinal plants were collected in Guidong. Local genuine medicinal materials, such as Huangjing, Magnolia officinalis, golden cypress, Eucommia ulmoides, and monk fruit, are of superior medicinal properties and quality. According to the test of professional institutions, the content of active ingredients is much higher than the indicators specified in the national pharmacopoeia.

 

The Chinese medicinal herb industry in Guidong has been included in the “Guidance Catalogue for the Development of Leading Characteristic Industries in Hunan Province”, and Guidong has been rated as a “Demonstration County for Traditional Chinese Medicinal Herb Planting Bases in Hunan Province”.

 

Guidong County has issued the incentive scheme to vigorously support the development of the Chinese medicinal herb industry.

 

 

 

There are 5,000 mu (about 333.33 hectares) of Magnolia officinalis at the demonstration base of Li Benchun, a large grower in Baiping Village, Oujiang Town. Li Yongfeng, head of Ruiyuan Agriculture Company in Guidong County, transferred over 2,000 mu (about 133.33 hectares) of land to plant holly roots. He signed a long-term purchase agreement with Shenzhen Huarun Sanjiu Pharmaceutical Company to ensure sales.

 

The Conference on Innovative Integration and Development of Traditional Chinese Medicine Industry, Cultural Tourism and Wellness was held in Guidong County from August 16 to 18, 2024. Experts, scholars, and entrepreneurs from relevant sectors nationwide gathered together to exchange ideas on the integrated development of traditional Chinese medicine and tourism.

 

Guidong County now has 14 leading enterprises engaged in the cultivation of traditional Chinese medicinal materials, 38 specialized farmers’ cooperatives, and more than 560 large growers of medicinal herbs, which have created 58,400 jobs for villagers. The Chinese medicinal material industry is thriving in towns and villages such as Oujiang, Datang, Pule, Shatian, and Sidu.

 

 

Chinese source: czxww