Asia’s only all-terrain off-road vehicle test ground drives rural revitalization in Yichang
2026-05-14 20:05:30
By Zhou Chunyi.
An off-road vehicle testing ground has transformed a quiet mountain village in Yuan’an County, Yichang.
Yuan’an Weichi (Yichang) Automotive Testing Technology Co., Ltd. operates Asia’s only all-terrain off-road vehicle testing facility in Huayuan Village. On May 11 alone, 11 automakers came to test off-road performance.
Yuanan Weichi (Yichang) Automotive Testing Technology Co., Ltd.'s off-road vehicle testing ground.Photo by Tanyang Chenlei.
Opened in 2017, the site now attracts more than 20,000 automotive engineers, test drivers, and industry professionals to the village each year. Local spending has surpassed 40 million yuan. The steady flow of visitors has also created stable jobs for more than 20 local residents.
Chen Jian, a former migrant worker now in his forties, works as a safety officer at the site. He earns between 60,000 and 80,000 yuan a year. Nearby, Wang Ping runs a farmhouse restaurant beside the track. He serves an average of five tables a day and earns about 30,000 yuan annually.
Chen Jian, a former migrant worker now in his forties, works as a safety officer at the site. He earns between 60,000 and 80,000 yuan a year. Nearby, Wang Ping runs a farmhouse restaurant beside the track. He serves an average of five tables a day and earns about 30,000 yuan annually.
A farm restaurant near the testing ground. Photo by Tanyang Chenlei.
Huayuan Village is now expanding its offerings with guesthouses, specialty dining, and fruit-picking tourism centered around the test track. Sixteen modern guesthouses have been completed and are set to open in October. A nearby 40-mu persimmon orchard is expected to bear fruit in two years.
The test track has brought new life to the village. Mingfeng Town plans to continue integrating agriculture and tourism so that more residents can share in the benefits.
Zeng Xuebin, Tanyang Chenlei and Zhao Wu also contributed to this story
