Let this beauty last forever
—— A record of how Shitai County maintains this
“cool” check-in spot
On a summer afternoon, Nanjing tourist Shi Chengyan holds her phone, capturing children joyfully jumping into the water. She posted a short video on Douyin: sunlight filtering through the leaves, children playing in the water and laughing, with the caption “A natural swimming pool, worth a visit!” Shi Chengyan spent three consecutive days here with her children, saying to the camera, “Look how clear the water is! The mountain breeze is so pleasant.” Behind her, the Jinjiatang Dam in Xintang Village resembles a green silk ribbon, embraced by ancient sycamore trees on both banks.
Who would have thought that this small river hidden in the mountains of southern Anhui, which was just an irrigation facility two years ago, has now become a popular spot? Searching for “Shitai Water Fun” on Douyin, eight out of ten results lead to this place — children in the shallow water clustered with swimming rings, adults floating in the deep water gazing at the clouds, and watermelons soaking in the stream, creating a perfect summer scene.
Beautiful mountains and waters meet the “ride-sharing” trend
“We didn’t spend a penny on promotion; it’s all word-of-mouth from visitors.” The village party secretary and village committee director, Tang Hongying, pulls out her phone to check records. Since mid-July, the topic of “Xintang Village” on Douyin and Xiaohongshu has exploded from hundreds to thousands of posts. Mothers from Nanjing have visited three days in a row, and Mr. Jiang’s family from Fuyang came specifically to see the “mountain water.” On the busiest day, over 2,000 people flooded into this small village, with cars from Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai lining up on the national highway.
This surge in visitors didn’t come from nowhere. Standing on the Xiangkou Bridge and looking down, the source of the Qiupu River, the Gongxin River, flows down from the Guniu Mountain range, merging with another tributary, the Hongling River. With a forest coverage rate of 84.68%, it creates a natural barrier, and the cool stream combined with ancient sycamore trees on both banks forms a “natural air conditioner.” With the opening of the G3W and Chiqi expressways, Shitai has integrated into the three-hour traffic circle of the Yangtze River Delta, and Xintang Village is conveniently located at the intersection of provincial roads, allowing visitors to reach the “Xintang Village Internet-famous dam” Jinjiatang Dam right off the highway.
“Two years ago, there were visitors in the summer, but it wasn’t significant.” Tang Hongying recalls that in the summer of 2022, the maximum number of visitors in a day was only a few dozen, but after the Dragon Boat Festival this year, it suddenly became popular. Social media acted like a favorable wind, turning the hidden charm of the mountains into a sought-after destination. On various platforms, the comment sections of water play videos posted by netizens are filled with questions: Where is this? How do I get there? Are there places to stay? And so, through sharing, this remote mountain village has become a “top trend.”
As the flow of visitors increases, a “safety net” is woven
Water attracts people, but good management is essential. Behind the bustling crowds lies a test of governance wisdom. “At first, it was a mix of joy and worry,” Tang Hongying laughed, recalling the early July surge when visitors crowded the area, leaving trash by the stream. As waves of tourists flooded the valley, how could they maintain the “internet-famous” status and ensure it lasts?
In response, Shitai County, the township, and the village quickly took action, holding meetings to strategize. The next day, volunteers in red vests were stationed by the stream, reminding, “Kids, make sure to wear your swimming rings!” Master Li from the Shuguang Rescue Team, with a loud voice, and over ten volunteers took shifts from 8 AM to 6:30 PM.
Not just volunteers. Police officers directed traffic on the national highway, and doctors from the health clinic roamed the stream with medical kits, while buoys separated the deep and shallow water areas. “Those orange buoys are the ‘safety line’; if children cross, we have to shout,” Tang Hongying pointed to the water surface.
The biggest headache was parking. Initially, visitors parked haphazardly, blocking the roads. The Dayan Township collaborated with representatives from over ten households in Xintang Village to hold a meeting, approving a plan prioritizing parking on township roads, supplemented by villagers’ parking spaces, and standardizing parking fees. They also devised a “tidal parking” strategy: from 8 AM to 6:30 PM on weekends, ensuring priority for visitor traffic.
They marked 100 new parking spaces along the creek, in addition to 97 at villagers’ homes, significantly reducing traffic congestion. Sister Wang from Wuhu calculated: “I parked at a villager’s house for 10 yuan, and I could stay as long as I wanted, plus I could change clothes and use the restroom.” Downstream from the dam, four prefabricated eco-toilets have quietly been built and will soon be put into use. Cleaner Tang Jianhong cleans the trash bins four times a day, saying, “When there are many people, six bins are simply not enough; I’ve already told the village to add a few more.”
The cool mountains and waters become the “fountain of happiness” for villagers
In the evening at Jinjiatang Dam in Xintang Village, people still gather around Tang Qincheng’s barbecue stall. Under the uniformly customized white sunshade, cold drinks are steaming, and swimming rings are neatly arranged. “We were worried about vendors overcharging, so the village set a guideline price, and unexpectedly, standardizing the business has improved sales!” He says while flipping skewers, now earning 700 to 800 yuan a day, much better than working outside.
Not just Tang Qincheng. The village’s old houses have been transformed into guesthouses, and free-range eggs and wild vegetables have become hot commodities for tourists. Aunt Tang’s small shop now sells swimsuits and water guns, “Previously, I sold only a few dozen yuan a day, but now I can sell several hundred yuan, which is really great.”
This is the profound transformation of Xintang Village. From “visitors coming” to “villagers becoming prosperous,” from “traffic dividends” to “development momentum.” Dayan Township Deputy Mayor Cha Xiaosheng clearly states: “With the influx of visitors, we can’t just let tourists enjoy; villagers must also reap the benefits.” Next, the village plans to establish a cooperative economic association to connect water play projects, guesthouses, and specialty shops, “so that everyone can work together to maintain this coolness.”
As they leave, volunteers remind visitors by the stream: “Take your trash with you; next time, the water will be clearer!” Shi Chengyan’s family tidies up their things, preparing to head back, while the child looks back reluctantly, asking, “Mom, when are we coming back next?”
When mountain and water resources are transformed into active collective economy,
When the laughter of tourists turns into the smiles of villagers,
Only then can the “internet-famous” truly take root in the soil,
And grow into a lasting landscape.
Friendly reminder from the editor: Although the water flow here looks gentle, please pay attention to safety, supervise children, follow the instructions of volunteers, park vehicles orderly, and take away trash to protect the environment, ensuring this beauty lasts forever.
Images: Jiang Xuefei, Ding Xihui, Xu Minke
Reporter: Ding Xihui, Jiang Xuefei
Source: Shitai County Media Center
Editor: Ding Xihui, Chief Editor: Wang Hui
Reviewed by: Meng Fanbing Jiang Xuefei
Supervisor: Hu Chuanwei
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