China's 'happy farmhouses' attract 900 mln tourists

An emerging form of agritourism in China called Nongjiale, literally "happy farmhouse," attracted 900 million tourists in the country in 2013, the latest data from the agricultural ministry showed.

The 1.5 million "happy farmhouses," also known as rural home inns, created a total of 29 million yuan (about 4.7 million U.S. dollars) in revenue for rural people, according to the ministry.

The "happy farmhouses," which provide rural-style food and accommodation, have been popular with people living in cities who want to temporarily escape from fast-paced urban life.

Villages with interesting folk culture, agricultural parks and leisure farms are other popular forms of agritourism in China.