A visitor takes a selfie at the lily fields in Wanfu village, Banjing town, Rugao. [Photo/WeChat account: rugaofabu]

A 1.33 hectares of lily fields in Wanfu village, Banjing town of Rugao, are drawing thousands of visitors this summer, as the village transforms the area into a thriving rural tourism destination.

The flower fields feature 140,000 lilies in vibrant shades of purple, red, white and pink, creating one of the area's most eye-catching seasonal attractions. "On peak weekends, we welcome 5,000 to 6,000 visitors a day," said Wan Yuanfei, Party secretary of the village. "Sales of freshly cut lilies alone can generate 5,000 to 6,000 yuan ($738 to $886) in daily revenue."

Behind the colorful display lies a scientific success story. The village partnered with a research team from Nanjing Agricultural University, introducing newly developed lily varieties that combine ornamental appeal with commercial value.

In addition to producing stunning blooms, the lilies yield edible bulbs, a premium agricultural product that generates more than 10,000 yuan in income per mu (667 square meters).

Edible lily bulbs. [Photo/WeChat account: rugaofabu]

Encouraged by the popularity of the attraction, Wanfu village is now preparing for its next phase of development. Later this year, the village plans to invite a professional design team to create a master plan for the site, focusing on educational tourism and leisure experiences.

The vision is to develop the lily garden into a multifunctional agricultural destination that integrates flower viewing, science education, hands-on activities and rural tourism, extending the value chain beyond flower cultivation.