By Jin Lu

As summer temperatures soar, Tingshi Stream in Chengyang Village, Dongqian Lake Town, Yinzhou District has reopened for its signature whitewater rafting season. Stretching 2.8 kilometers with a dramatic 168-meter drop, the stream offers both adrenaline-pumping excitement and scenic charm. In just two weeks, it has attracted more than 15,000 visitors, quickly emerging as a new hotspot for those looking for a splash of fun.

Tingshi is just one example of Ningbo's growing "rafting craze".

Once plagued by frequent natural disasters and severe soil erosion, the Tingshi watershed has been transformed through restoration efforts led by the Yinzhou District Water Conservancy Bureau and the Dongqian Lake Town government. Thanks to these improvements, a once-troubled stream has become a popular destination for nature lovers and thrill-seekers alike.

"Our site is one of the closest rafting spots to downtown Ningbo," said a representative from Ningbo Chengyang Tourism Development Co., Ltd. "We have over 1,000 rafts and can accommodate more than 3,000 visitors per day."

The whitewater rafting business is booming. On weekends, rafting sites across the city are packed.

At Yantou Ancient Village in Fenghua, cars line the roads from the parking lot to the village entrance. Locals shuttle back and forth on tricycles delivering bottled water, with empty bottles quickly stacking up in tall heaps.

In Xiangshan's Longxi Valley, rafting has become a favorite among families with children. Kids in yellow life jackets frolic happily on the riverbank, while parents race after them with phones in hand, eager to capture the fun.

At the Banzhu rafting spot in Xikou, the air rings with laughter as visitors speed down the stream in rubber boats.

This rafting boom has become more than just a refreshing way to escape the summer heat—it's fueling a thriving rural economy, creating jobs, attracting tourists, and transforming natural assets into shared prosperity.