Sana Abuzar, a Pakistani student, paints a rose pattern with syrup under the guidance of a local artisan in Beishan village, Jinhua. [Photo/Tide News]

A group of international students visited Beishan village, Xiangxi town in Lanxi — a county-level city in Jinhua, Zhejiang province, on May 17 to experience the integrated development of rural cultural tourism.

The students' visit began at the common prosperity market at the village entrance, where stalls lined the bluestone pavement. The agricultural section featured plump cherry tomatoes and artisanal soy sauce, while the intangible cultural heritage zone showcased sugar painting.

Sana Abuzar, a Pakistani student, crafted a rose pattern with syrup under the guidance of a local artisan. Experiencing sugar painting for the first time, she felt that the interactive activity deepened her appreciation for Chinese traditional craftsmanship.

The group then paddled kayaks along a river. Tanzanian student Aidan Mpollo alternated between rowing and sunbathing on his kayak, enjoying the refreshing natural environment.

Fahad Shah from Pakistan boarded a sightseeing shuttle to view the bamboo forests and traditional villages along the emerald-green landscape. "Everything blends harmoniously — mountains, water, bamboo forests, and villages make this a perfect destination," he said, while taking photos of the idyllic views.

Zhao Di, an official in Xiangxi town, explained how Beishan village transitioned from an unknown village to a thriving tourism hub through the "wellness resort and green transformation" project.

With new hiking trails, an ecological park, and a sales center launched this month, the village aims to create a seamless "sightseeing-experience-consumption" tourism loop. Zhao indicated that these developments are intended to turn green mountains and clear waters into sustainable drivers of rural vitalization.