Golden hay bales dot the wilderness, beneath a sky of blue streaked with white clouds. Here, a casual snap turns into a wonderful pastoral photo. Recently, these "Haystack Swiss Rolls" in the Modern Agricultural Demonstration Zone of Dongying City, east China’s Shandong Province, have gained popularity as an internet-famous check-in spot, injecting new impetus into the revitalization of rural culture and tourism.

Visitors are taking pictures with “Haystack Swiss Rolls” in Dongying.

In the scenic area, haystacks have been redesigned in a scene-specific and playful way. With cute emoji paintings, themed photo walls, and rural revitalization display boards, these once agricultural waste products have been transformed into visually appealing and interactive cultural tourism props. As the "Haystack Swiss rolls" went viral, many people shared stunning short videos on platforms like Tik Tok and Red Note. These clips struck a chord with young audiences, effectively converting online popularity into offline foot traffic, turning Dongying’s rural beauty into a nationwide sensation.

Notably, the haystacks boast both ecological and economic value. When the display is over, they will be processed into animal feed, fuel, and fertilizer, creating a sustainable model which combines cultural tourism check-ins and agricultural recycling, fostering a new paradigm for rural tourism development.