“This time I came to ‘breathe in oxygen’, and every time I take a deep breath, I find it worth this trip,” said Xie Yang, a tourist from Shenzhen.

 

“We carry out protective development of ecological resources and pilot construction of forest wellness. It has become a new fashion for tourists to ‘wash their lungs’ and ‘preserve health’ in Chenzhou,” said Guo Yingxiang, director of the Chenzhou Forestry Bureau. 

 

Zixing Chukou Forest Farm, Rucheng Jiulong River National Forest Park, Anren Xiongfeng Mountain God Park, and Linwu Baoyuan Nanguo Red Bean Manor have been rated as provincial-level forest health care bases in the first half of this year.

 

Chenzhou, with a forest coverage rate of nearly 70%, is the source of the three major water systems of the Xiangjiang, Ganjiang and Beijiang rivers and a “National Forest Tourism Demonstration City”.

 

Chenzhou City has carried out projects pertaining to afforestation, forestation, and restoration of degraded forests, and has solidly promoted integrated protection and holistic approach to conserve mountains, rivers, forests, farmland, lakes, grasslands and sands. 

 

 

In the first half of this year, the city completed 175,100 mu (about 11,673.33 hectares) of artificial afforestation and 199,000 mu (13,266.67 hectares) of degraded forest restoration. Yijiang State-owned Forest Farm in Rucheng County and Xishan State-owned Forest Farm in Linwu County are pilot projects of national forest sustainable management. 

 

Relying on the high-quality forest resources of nature reserves and state-owned forest farms, Chenzhou City has promoted the development of forest tourism through the upgrading of scenic spots and services.

 

Guidong County, with an average summer temperature of only 23 degrees Celsius, is making every effort to build a “health oxygen mountain city”, with more than 600 different types of homestay inns. Guidong County was awarded the “Charming County of Deep Breath Eco-Tourism” in China together with Miyun District of Beijing City and Jiuzhaigou County of Sichuan Province due to its biodiversity and rich resources.

 

Swan Mountain National Forest Park in Zixing City, with Bamian Mountain (main peak altitude 2042.1 meters) within its area and Dongjiang Lake by its side, is an eco-tourism base featuring forest wellness, sightseeing and scientific research. 

 

Wugai Mountain in Suxian District is more than 1,600 meters above sea level, with a forest coverage rate of more than 90%, which is the closest summer resort to Chenzhou City.

 

Chenzhou City has 4 nature reserves above the provincial level, 9 forest parks above the provincial level, 5 national wetland parks, 5 scenic spots above the provincial level, and 4 geological parks at or above the provincial level. It has also established a total of 7 pilot national forest wellness bases, 1 national base for forest experience, and 5 provincial forest wellness bases. 

 

Mangshan Mountain was rated as one of the first national youth nature education green camps, and Qingzhu Village in Guidong County was included in the first batch of provincial youth nature education green camps.