Perched in the northern mountains of Fuzhou's Jin'an district, Huanxi town has long served as a vital passageway linking China's inland regions to its southeastern coast. Nestled among its forested ridges lies Kuliang—once a celebrated summer retreat where cool breezes and wooded valleys nurtured the warm people-to-people exchanges now known as the "Bond with Kuliang". With 72 percent forest coverage, this "back garden of Fuzhou" has undergone a remarkable transformation, evolving from a traditional mountain settlement into a vibrant destination for living, working, leisure and travel.

Today, the Kuliang Tourist Resort is steadily advancing toward its goal of becoming a national 5A-level tourist attraction, with continuous upgrades to both its natural environment and visitor experience. Whether waking to birdsong in the towering cedar forests, enjoying tea on the terrace of an award-winning guesthouse or admiring the sparkling nightscape from the Jiahu Lake Skywalk, visitors now encounter a Kuliang that feels both refreshed and immersive.

Over the past two decades, the area has seen sustained improvements in infrastructure and public services. Four visitor centers, seven parking facilities and 36 grade-A tourist restrooms have been completed, while 130,000 square meters of illegal structures have been removed to restore historic views. The Guhuan Road—the main access route to Kuliang—was named one of China's "Top Ten Most Beautiful Rural Roads", enhancing both safety and scenic appeal.

Cultural preservation and creative revitalization have advanced in parallel. Restored traditional dwellings, new cultural exhibition spaces and upgraded commercial streets offering local cuisine, tea culture experiences and creative products all contribute to a deeper sense of place.

New tourism offerings have further expanded Kuliang's appeal beyond the summer season. Signature experiences such as the "Kuliang Stargazing Night Tour" and "Forest Wellness Retreats" have helped shape the area into a year-round destination that blends nature, culture and leisure.

Last year, Kuliang welcomed more than 6.3 million visitors, generating 640 million yuan ($90.4 million) in tourism revenue, an evidence of its rising popularity and the enduring vitality of the "Bond with Kuliang", symbolizing longstanding friendship between the peoples of China and the United States.