"The key lies in turning these resource strengths into distinctive tourism products and consumption scenarios," she said. "It can not only meet people's increasingly diverse consumption demands, but also inject new vitality into the county economy."

　　According to Sun Jiashan, a researcher at the Central Institute of Socialism, China's tourism market has evolved from "City Walk" to "Country Walk."

　　Steadily improving transportation has made county-level destinations more accessible. By the end of 2025, China's total operating railway mileage had reached 165,000 km, including more than 50,000 km of high-speed rail.

　　Shortly before the National Day holiday, the country opened four major high-speed railway sections, improving transport links across several regions and making travel easier for residents. The high-speed rail network is projected to hit 70,000 km by 2035, with eight north-south vertical lines and eight east-west horizontal lines.

　　In addition, Sun noted that beyond scenic spots, historical sites and natural landscapes, tourists are increasingly drawn to vibrant scenes of everyday life, such as farmers' markets and bustling streets. "This shift also places higher demands on local cultural and tourism infrastructure and services," he said.

　　"As overseas tourists venture beyond first-tier cities into central and western regions and county-level areas, they encounter not only the outward face of China's development but also the texture of everyday social life," he said. "This helps break through cognitive filters and information barriers in Western societies and presents a real China to the world."

　　(Video reporters: Wang Xuetao, Yue Wenwan, Yan Rui, Hu Rong and Zhang Yujie; Video editors: Yang Zeyi, Zhang Mocheng, Zheng Xin)