Bicycle race held to promote development of rural tourism

Taking advantage of the 2025 China Road Cycling League (Liquan Station), the Liquan county government made a strong push to boost rural tourism in this culturally rich area of Shaanxi province in Northwest China.

The event, which kicked off on June 13, was hosted by the China Cycling Association, Shaanxi Provincial Sports Bureau, and Xianyang Municipal People's Government, and organized by the Xianyang Municipal Sports Bureau, Liquan County CPC  Committee, Liquan County People's Government, and Shaanxi Provincial Aviation Radio Automobile Motorcycle Sports Management Center.

The race is China’s top-tier professional cycling event and serves as a points competition for the 15th National Games. More than 400 professional riders from over 20 provinces participated.

Over the course of five days, multiple competitions will be held, including individual and mixed team time trials.

As one of the organizers, Liquan county has integrated the competition route with cultural and tourist attractions such as the Zhao Mausoleum of Tang Dynasty (618-907) and Yuanjia Village, providing participants with a unique experience of ever-changing scenery along the way.

At the same time, it has launched characteristic cultural and tourism activities such as "cycling + picking" and "competition + homestay".

As part of its efforts, the county organized the "Follow the Race to Visit Liquan" integrated media interview activity, inviting more than 20 mainstream media reporters and multiple internet experts from various provinces to visit local companies, cultural sites, and rural attractions, to share Liquan’s unique charm through a full media platform and integrated media methods.

Zhao Mausoleum is the tomb of Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, and is the largest of the "18 Tombs of Tang Dynasty" in the Guanzhong region of Shaanxi. The circumference is 60 kilometers, covering an area of more than 200 square kilometers, with 198 satellite tombs arranged in a fan-shaped pattern centered around the emperor's tomb. Renowned for its grand scale and abundant cultural treasures, it is the largest royal cemetery in the world and is known as China’s most prestigious imperial mausoleum.

The Zhao Mausoleum and the Mausoleum Museum are key gateways to understanding the rich history and culture of the prosperous Tang Dynasty, said Zhang Mingxian, deputy director of the museum.

Liquan county is working to build a strong rural tourism brand, with Yuanjia Village as a flagship destination.

Data shows that in 2024, Yuanjia Village received 9.5 million tourists, ranking first among tourist attractions in Shaanxi. The comprehensive tourism income exceeded 1.2 billion yuan ($167 million), and the per capita net income of villagers was over 150,000 yuan. The annual sales of agricultural products exceeded 500 million yuan, creating local jobs for more than 3,000 farmers and boosting incomes for tens of thousands in surrounding areas.

In recent years, Liquan county has made Yuanjia Village its flagship for promoting the integrated development of agriculture, culture, and tourism. By creating immersive visitor experiences, it has developed two national 4A-level scenic spots, three national 3A-level tourist attractions, 85 modern agricultural picking gardens, and 18 provincial-level rural tourism demonstration villages.

In 2024, the county welcomed over 15.8 million tourists, and the comprehensive tourism revenue once again exceeded 10 billion yuan.