Located at the eastern part of Youzi Hill National Forest Park in Gaochun, the Yaxi Cittaslow International Tourist Resort is a national AAAA-level scenic area integrating the ecological resources of the hill. It has such functions as eco-tourism, farming experience, efficient agriculture and holiday resort. It enjoys the titles of “China’s Best Ecological Resort”, “Top Ten Slow Tour Sites in Villages of China”, “New 48 Scenic Spots of Jinling” and the “Most Beautiful Rape Flowers Resort in East China” and so on. It was crowned an “International Slow City” by Cittaslow, the first one of its kind in China.
The “eco-tour” in Yaxi extends 48 km through six administrative villages, covering 50 square km. The environment is beautiful and the scenery picturesque. Centering on the building of the most beautiful village by the Yangtze River, Yaxi endeavors to develop efficient organic agriculture, 667 hectares of organic tea, 667 hectares of Phyllostachys propinqua, 667 hectares of nursery stock, 667 hectares of organic food, 667 hectares of economic fruits and other agricultural sightseeing gardens and an ecological demonstration base. There are 18 places of historic interest and scenic beauty including the Zhang Xun Memorial Hall, Yongqing Temple, Nancheng Ruins, Daguantang Reservoir built by Liu Bowen, GongWell which produces the sound of gongs after a stone is thrown into it, Tiandi Theatre built in 16th year (1890) of the Guangxu era (1871-1908), Zhuangyuan Mountain, Wanghe Pavilion, Bamboo Forest on Jingshan Mountain—the largest in Jinling with the bamboo planted from the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368).