It is not just the summer that is heating up the evenings in Xinghua village of Yiyang county, Henan province. The thriving nighttime economy does that too, as the village comes alive with music, laughter and the bustling sounds of vendors.

"Xinghua village, formerly known as Shandi village, used to be an ordinary settlement at the foot of the local mountain. Today, it is vibrant by day and radiant by night, attracting a steady stream of visitors," said Zhou Jingwei, Party secretary of the village. "Our small mountainous village has gained new life."

With intensified efforts for rural vitalization, the village's cultural tourism, dining and homestay businesses have flourished to new heights — a night tourism economy with local characteristics has taken shape, featuring light shows, themed restaurants and unique camping experiences.

"Adorning every nook and cranny of the ancient village with lights that also reflect modern aesthetics, the village transforms into a dazzling spectacle when night falls," said a visitor surnamed Wang to the village. "The beautiful illumination breathes new life into the historic setting."

The rapid growth of the local nighttime economy has led to a significant increase in power consumption, and the escalating demand for electrical load has also placed higher requirements on the local power grid infrastructure, Zhou said, adding that electric power has become an essential factor to invigorate the village's nighttime economy.

After on-site assessments, it was estimated that Xinghua village's nighttime power load would reach 80 kilowatts and existing power lines, with their smaller diameter, were insufficient to meet the current demand.

"Many people from nearby counties and cities choose to visit Xinghua at night. The restaurants, shops and homestays within the scenic area consume significant amounts of electricity," said Zheng Shanlin, an employee at State Grid Yiyang County Power Supply Co.

"Therefore, we conduct regular nighttime inspections to promptly address any potential issues, ensuring everyone can safely enjoy the night scenery and unique charm of the ancient village," Zheng said.

To thoroughly resolve the power supply issues, the electricity supplier installed additional transformers, repositioned certain facilities, and upgraded over 1,200 meters of distribution lines to ensure a reliable and uninterrupted supply, it said.

Henan is not alone in backing rural tourism with full support and reliable energy push. Driving along the highway in Linxia, Gansu province, one can enjoy the serene scenery with gentle breezes and endless green meadows. At this time of the year, the expansive landscapes of Linxia are adorned with blooming wildflowers under clear skies.

At the intersection of the Linxia and Hezheng sections of the Taizishan tourism cluster lies the Yunshang Hezhou health resort. The cultural and wellness tourism base spans 30,000 square meters and offers a blend of local cultural experience, health-focused cuisine, leisure activities and eco-friendly farming.

"Currently, it's the peak tourist season, and visitors are flocking to the tourism cluster from all around the country, boosting our business," said Yao Xinzhou, head of the resort, adding that with its lush green landscapes, clear waters and melodic birdsong, it aims to provide a retreat for urban visitors seeking a slow-paced natural tourism experience.

However, as the resort is located more than 2,300 meters above sea level, it can experience drastic temperature fluctuations between day and night, and thus relies heavily on electricity for accommodation and kitchen facilities, Yao said. "Monthly electricity usage can reach over 13,000 kilowatt-hours during peak times."

Linxia has therefore formulated a special inspection plan tailored to the electricity usage of the resort, including high-temperature load forecasting and safe operation strategies. It has also increased the frequency of inspections for power cables and equipment, and utilized advanced technical tools to monitor and record the condition of both indoor and outdoor electrical operations, said State Grid Linxia Power Supply Co.

According to a rural tourism development index report released by the culture and tourism bureau of Gansu, the province's rural tourism market experienced comprehensive growth last year, with 152.61 million trips throughout the year, up 71 percent year-on-year. Total revenue from rural tourism reached 48.19 billion yuan ($6.67 billion), up 81.54 percent year-on-year.

The 2024 China Rural Tourism Development White Paper by industrial research company Fastdata said that the rural tourism sector emerged as a front-runner for the domestic tourism market, attracting about 800 million visits in the first quarter. The sector also generated an output value of over 900 billion yuan and created over 60 million jobs last year, it said.

However, the development of rural tourism cannot be separated from efforts to advance infrastructure and support services in rural areas, where travel facilities, tourist services as well as management and operation capabilities may lag behind those in urban areas, the report said.

Targeting the gap, a guideline jointly issued by the country's Ministry of Culture and Tourism and eight other departments last month focuses on the improvement of tourism public services and the capacity to provide tourism-related public services in weak areas, during peak hours and for groups with special needs, to ensure the system is compatible with the high-quality development of the tourism sector.

"In certain regions, particularly economically underdeveloped areas, tourism-related public infrastructure still lags behind. The functionality of services remains incomplete, and the level of development does not match the rapid growth of our tourism market," said a spokesman from the ministry in an earlier news conference.

"In this regard, filling the gaps and weaknesses in public tourism services, improving supporting services, further enhancing service quality and creating a favorable tourism environment are a crucial task before us," he said.

The next three to five years will see China establish an efficient tourism public service system featuring a complete structure, sound standards, smooth operation and high quality, according to the guideline.

"China has fully entered the era of 'mass tourism', characterized by the distinct trend of individual travel preference. The issuance of the guideline aligns with the developmental characteristics of the country's current tourism industry," said Li Yunpeng, a professor at the Capital University of Economics and Business.

Li said the guideline is conducive to building a systematic and comprehensive public tourism service system at the national level, which will greatly enhance the travel experience for tourists.