BEIJING: Cool mountain air once drew foreign residents and local families up from Fuzhou to Kuliang, a hilltop retreat about 20 kilometres from the city centre in Fujian province.
More than a century later, the escape from the summer heat remains part of Kuliang's appeal. But these days, visitors are finding more reasons to stay, and more ways to spend time, among its hills.
Camping under the stars, watching the sunset, browsing pop-up markets or joining evening performances are becoming part of Kuliang's new tourism mix as the historical retreat seeks to attract younger visitors and encourage longer stays.
At Zhugangding, a mountaintop area, visitors can watch the sunrise over the sea, take in views of the city and river during the day, and settle in for sunset and stargazing after dark.
The site, which opened in May 2025 after ecological restoration, can accommodate more than 2,000 people. Six stargazing cabins are now available, with more facilities planned.
"It used to be that most visitors came for a day and then left. We want to turn that into overnight tourism," says Wang Ke, deputy Party chief and assistant general manager of Fuzhou Kuliang Protection and Development Co.
The shift is also visible in the way accommodation is being reimagined.
At Ginlan Jia Hotel, operator Ma Yu says younger travelers are showing growing interest in experiences that go beyond the traditional summer retreat.
The hotel is developing camping activities, a market for cultural and creative products, pet-friendly experiences and new dishes that combine local ingredients with contemporary cooking.
The planned market will allow creative vendors and interest groups to set up stalls, bringing visitors into the experience rather than simply having them look around, Ma says.
He says the change is particularly visible among younger visitors.
"In the past, summer retreats tended to attract relatively older guests," he says. "Young people now have more ideas about how they want to spend their time."
That is why the hotel is adding camping, markets and new food options while keeping prices relatively accessible, Ma says.
"We are trying to get closer to them in different ways." - China Daily/ANN
