Beautiful birds illuminate the path to rural vitalization in Mingxi county. [Photo provided to gofujian.com]

It's often been asked how can birds help rural vitalization, but come to Mingxi county in Sanming city, located in East China's Fujian province, and you will find your answer.

Located at the southeastern foot of Wuyi Mountain, Mingxi boasts a forest coverage of 82.12 percent and ranks among the top places for air and water quality in Fujian.

Positioned along a crucial international migratory bird pathway, the county has documented 337 species of wild birds.

Capitalizing on its unique advantages, Mingxi has strategically embraced birdwatching tourism to help drive forwards its overall rural vitalization.

Boasting five key birdwatching hubs and 31 premier sites, the county now attracts over 30,000 enthusiasts annually, both local and international, wanting to immerse themselves in the beauty of Mingxi through birdwatching tours, nature camps and other activities.

Meanwhile, embracing tradition and modernity, Mingxi has also introduced slow live-streaming of birdwatching, bringing online audiences an immersive on-site experience.

Danshang village, one of the first villages in Mingxi county to explore birdwatching tourism, has slowed down its conventional development in recent years.

Instead, it's expanded and improved five birdwatching locations, emphasizing scenic designs and overall aesthetic appeal to cater to the needs of different travelers.

Visitors to Danshang can now enjoy dining, lodging, training and product displays.

A new cultural and service center with an investment of 3 million yuan ($421,590) is nearing completion, promising to elevate the cultural and tourism experiences to be had in Danshang.

Wang Chenye contributed to this story.