A bird's-eye view of the city is a major draw for visitors staying at the Ginlan Jia Hotel in Kuliang, Fuzhou, Fujian province.[Photo provided to China Daily]

At the heart of Kuliang in Fuzhou, Fujian province, lies Yixia village, a tranquil mountain retreat where cool breezes offer welcome relief from the summer heat. With an average elevation of about 800 meters, Kuliang is typically 5 to 8 C cooler than downtown Fuzhou, making it a popular destination for summer getaways.

More than a century ago, the area's refreshing climate attracted foreign visitors who built villas and lived alongside local residents. Their stories became an enduring part of Kuliang's cultural heritage, laying the foundation for the lasting friendship embodied by "Bond with Kuliang".

Today, the mountain retreat continues to draw visitors, while its historic buildings are being given new life as cultural and tourism destinations.

At Cedar King Park, a Chinese cedar more than 1,300 years old towers over the landscape, casting shade across the grounds as visitors relax and enjoy the scenery. Nearby, DiamondreaM Bookhouse has transformed a former villa into a vibrant cultural space, preserving its original stone walls, wooden windows and verandas while adding books, coffee, creative products and light refreshments. During the peak summer season, it can welcome more than 10,000 visitors in a single day.

Kuliang is also breathing new life into historic villas and underused tourism properties, turning them into distinctive hotels and homestays. These accommodations allow visitors to stay among the mountains and clouds while experiencing the charm of a slower-paced mountain lifestyle.

Nestled in the forest, Ginlan Jia Hotel offers sweeping views of the surrounding mountains and Fuzhou's nighttime skyline. Since opening in 2023, it has welcomed more than 38,000 guests, including over 1,700 international visitors, and maintains an average annual occupancy rate of 76 percent.

Kuliang's homestays each offer their own take on mountain living. At Zhugangding, a once-barren hillside has been transformed into a mountain-top leisure camp. Since opening in 2025, it has welcomed 300,000 visitors, with monthly revenue reaching as high as 500,000 yuan ($74,400).

From historic villas and cultural spaces to hotels, homestays and outdoor camps, Kuliang is turning its refreshing climate and enduring spirit of friendship into a vibrant cultural tourism economy — bringing new life to a historic summer retreat while creating more opportunities for people from China and around the world to connect.