China’s Most Beautiful Countryside Wuyuan 

Compiled by the Publicity Department of the CPC Wuyuan County Committee 

Price: RMB 268 

Hardcover, 226 pages 

Published by Foreign Languages Press 

As one of the six counties of ancient Huizhou, Wuyuan has been widely acclaimed as “China’s Most Beautiful Countryside” both at home and abroad. It owes its charm to a landscape shaped by deep-rooted rural cultural traditions and harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature. 

Today, Wuyuan is a county under the jurisdiction of Shangrao City, Jiangxi Province, which has upheld its values of “nurturing body and mind” for centuries. This tradition, nourished by local customs, ways of life, and folk arts, has been passed down through generations, infusing local villages with lasting vitality. 

Featuring a selection of works by renowned photographers, the photography book China’s Most Beautiful Countryside Wuyuan presents to the world a vivid new vision of China’s rural revitalization, with Wuyuan as a prime example. These images capature milestones of Wuyuan’s integrated progress in rural revitalization and eco-civilization. They showcase the outcomes of dedicated efforts that have transformed the region into a model county for the Beautiful China Initiative, that stresses advancing modernization featuring in human-nature harmony. 

Organized in three chapters — “Harmony Between Humanity and Nature,” “Rich Tapestry of Cultural Heritage,” and “Evolving Dynamics of Ancient Villages” — the book weaves together striking images and insightful text to showcase Wuyuan’s natural beauty, cultural legacy, and contemporary advancements. This compelling visual narrative portrays China’s cohesive and comprehensive progress in rural revitalization and ecological protection. 

The book’s opening chapter depicts the beauty of Wuyuan through its enchanting landscapes, village water gateways, serene rural life, and thriving wildlife. 

Wuyuan is characterized by its predominantly mountainous terrain, with limited arable areas and plentiful waterways. These hills and streams sketch its contours, unfolding a panorama of gentle, undulating greenery. While it may lack towering peaks, every natural view is imbued with cultural depth. Wuyuan stands as a sanctuary for the soul, weaving nature and culture into a uniquely harmonious tapestry. 

With forests covering over 83.67 percent of its land, Wuyuan has become a haven for diverse bird species. Its well-preserved ecosystem hosts over 5,000 types of flora and fauna, including more than 150 under national protection. Recognized as a model county for ecological civilization and a national nature reserve for forest birds, Wuyuan composes a vibrant symphony of human and natural harmony. 

Here, villages are nestled along streams, featuring water gateways where the terrain naturally narrows the flow. To preserve the auspicious energy associated with water, locals plant trees, build pavilions, erect bridges, and raise towers at these gateways, creating distinctive landscapes that also function as communal gardens. 

This tradition of nurturing both body and mind has imbued the land with a natural romance and poetic grace. Daily life unfolds like an exquisitely painted scroll, evoking nostalgia in travelers and attracting many who yearn for an idyllic rural life. 

The second chapter explores the rich tapestry of Wuyuan’s cultural heritage. Here, visitors may encounter elaborate ancestral halls and historic academies, many of which were founded and funded by prosperous local merchants, as well as scholars and retired officials. Through exquisite craftsmanship, they infused the carvings and ornaments of these structures with their dreams and aspirations, creating a vivid living record of local life and stories woven into Wuyuan’s history. 

Ancient pathways, pavilions, arched bridges, and weirs stand as timeless monuments to the achievements of past generations, weaving a collective memory and emotional bond that transcends time and space. Today, inheritors of Wuyuan’s three renowned traditional carving arts — wood, brick, and stone — along with masters of She inkstone making, handmade paper umbrellas, and green tea processing, have established dedicated workshops in traditional villages and scenic areas to preserve and pass on these precious crafts. 

The third chapter looks toward Wuyuan’s future. Long before its rural tourism gained global recognition, Wuyuan was already represented by a single leaf — Wuyuan tea, a prized export celebrated across China and beyond. Since being recorded in The Classic of Tea during the Tang Dynasty (618–907), Wuyuan green tea has earned global acclaim. Today, Wuyuan has evolved with the times, transitioning from a pivot on the ancient tea road to an integrated model that blends organic tea farming with cultural tourism. This modern approach has positioned Wuyuan at the forefront of China’s tea industry, establishing it as a leading export base with a brand value reaching RMB 3.2 billion. 

Nowadays, new landmarks and attractions are rapidly emerging. A network of mini green spaces, pocket parks, and improved urban infrastructure is well underway. The vision of “all-for-one tourism” in Wuyuan is perfectly embodied in the idea of “greenery outside every window, scenic views at every doorstep, and leisure just steps away.”