Recently, equestrian enthusiasts galloped under the guidance of professional coaches at the Super Strong Equestrian Club in Xunlonghe Village, Guoyuan Town, Changsha County, Hunan Province, experiencing the unique charm of equestrian sports. This sport, once more commonly seen in urban areas, is now taking root and growing in rural regions, opening up a new path for the integrated development of culture, tourism, and sports in local rural revitalization.

As an Olympic event, equestrian sports have rapidly gained popularity in the Chinese mainland in recent years, especially favored by teenagers. In Xunlonghe Village, many parents bring their children to experience and learn equestrian skills on weekends and holidays. Club President Li Xiaoshen explained that the base covers an area of more than 40 mu (2.67 ha.), which is built according to the three-star standard of the International Equestrian Federation. The club is equipped with an outdoor main arena and indoor venues, and currently has more than 50 horses.

On October 11, Li Xiaoshen, president of the Super Strong Equestrian Club, takes care of a horse in Changsha County. (Photo/Tang Xiaoqing, Chinanews)

Relying on well-equipped facilities and professional coaching, a number of high-level events such as the Chinese Equestrian Association Youth U Series and the Hunan Equestrian League have been held in the village, attracting contestants and spectators from various places. Yu Yang, deputy head of Guoyuan Town, said that equestrian sports have become a new calling card for rural development. Hosting the serial events has boosted the village's popularity and has driven accommodation, sightseeing, and agricultural product sales within the village.

Equestrian experience now has been deeply integrated into the comprehensive cultural and tourism layout of Guoyuan Town. This has been coordinated with Tianhan Cultural Park and mountain and wild leisure businesses to form a characteristic rural cultural and tourism boutique route, becoming a popular new leisure experience project locally. The one-day tour route developed by the local authority covers cherry blossom viewing and fruit picking, a cultural park visit, equestrian experience, and special Huaguo crayfish tasting, and is widely favored by tourists.

Yu Yang noted that the introduction of equestrian sports to rural areas has greatly enriched the supply of regional cultural and tourism products, effectively driving the revenue increase and quality improvement of surrounding homestays and dining. It has continuously broadened channels for enriching rural residents through deep integration of sports, culture, and tourism. At the beginning of this year, Guoyuan Town also joined hands with the equestrian base to hold a Chinese New Year-themed rural market carnival, where villagers and tourists watched equestrian events up close, purchased special agricultural products, and experienced rural fun. This upgraded the traditional rural market into a new cultural and tourism scenario integrating sports, leisure, and consumption.

Equestrian competitions have brought about a rural transformation, which Liu Qun, a hotel operator adjacent to the base, has felt deeply. "Whenever equestrian events are held, all the guest rooms in the hotel are fully booked. Many guests also purchase farmhouse vegetables, free-range eggs, and other special agricultural products," Liu Qun said. Equestrian events have brought a steady flow of customers to rural areas, clearly reversing the slump of the tourism off-season, and also driving up the surrounding dining volume by nearly 30 percent year on year.

On October 11, a coach rides a horse over a hurdle at the Super Strong Equestrian Club in Xunlonghe Village in Guoyuan Town, demonstrating equestrian skills. (Photo/Tang Xiaoqing, Chinanews)

The equestrian industry has also established an employment platform for local villagers right at their doorsteps. The club has cumulatively driven employment for more than 50 residents in surrounding areas. Li Xiaoshen said that after systematic training, villagers are engaged in stable management, venue maintenance, event support, and other work. At the same time, Hunan's equestrian competitive level has achieved breakthroughs, with the club cultivating National Games riders, national-level master athletes, and multiple national first- and second-level athletes.

Currently, this new equestrian business model rooted in the countryside has been successfully rated as one of the third batch of Hunan cultural and tourism consumption "New Generation · New Scenarios." Yu Yang believed that the equestrian base has become a popular destination for young people and family groups, adding an elegant charm and vitality to the cultural and tourism industry of Guoyuan Town.

This article is from the Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Yu Jiangjiang

Chinese source: Chinanews