By Feng Zhiwei and Ren Xiaojin
Rural Hunan draws in visitors and revenue with its beautiful and relaxing atmosphere
"I opened my cottage with a 50,000 yuan ($7,197) loan from the local bank, and every holiday and vacation, my cottage filled up with visitors very quickly," said Ouyang Meifei, a cottage owner in Goulan village, in Jiangyong county of Yongzhou, Hunan province.
Goulan village, with an area of 7 square meters and a population of 1,561, benefits from the rich folk heritage of the Yao ethnic group and its abundant rural tourism resources.
As soon as one walks into the Goulan village of the Yao ethnic group, they will be impressed by the unique culture of the Yao people and the refreshing country landscapes of the Central China region.
A dreamy journey into the wilderness, the wildflower sightseeing tour, local folk culture experiences ... the village has many of travel options to offer and has been gaining greater recognition.
China
But who could imagine, only a few years ago, the now flourishing destination was one of the most impoverished places in China.
"In 2013, the village had 120 low-income households and the average monthly income was only 2,298 yuan," said Ouyang Mingjun, the village's Party chief.
However, the per capita annual income of local villager is 5,892 yuan on average.
"In recent years, however, the government has been taking steps toward poverty alleviation, particularly with the development of rural tourism."
The result has been very positive. In 2015, the tourism business brought the village 1.8 million yuan in profit and the average income of household increased by a third, said Ouyang.
According to the Party chief, not only have the 120 poverty-stricken households found a better way to live, but the village as a whole has been ranked as national 3A tourist area.
Goulan Village is only one example of how Hunan province is tackling poverty with rural tourism business.
"Hunan is one of the provinces in China that have severe poverty, and we will learn from the successful case of Goulan village and promote its experience to benefit more low-income households through tourism business," said Chen Xianchun, director of Hunan's Tourism and Development Bureau.
Throughout the past year, tourism has played a significant role in poverty alleviation in Hunan. It has benefited more than 2.6 million impoverished citizens, especially with its rural tourism.
Chen added that during the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20), Hunan, with a total population of 67.8 million, aims to pull 1 million people out of poverty through its tourism business.
"We need to establish a complete system combining the Party, travel companies, the internet and local farmers," Chen said. "Transforming the village into a cooperative enterprise and making the villagers the shareholders would encourage everyone to join in the battle against poverty."
The city of Xiangxiang in the center of Hunan is also sparing no effort in its rural tourism development.
The local government has invested heavily in building museums and centers for research of local historical figures. It has also branded its Shuifu Temple, surrounded by serene reservoirs, as a destination in which to escape the city.
"The Shuifu Temple reservoirs are the most precious water resources," said Peng Ruilin, the Party chief of Xiangxiang. "We need to first brand and market them properly, and then make the reservoirs a holiday destination."
Equipped with car park camps, bars and signature fish dishes, Shuifu Temple has attracted many holiday visitors.
"The fish from the Shuifu reservoirs tasted really good, and the lakeside trail is quiet and peaceful," said tourist He Min. "Compared with more famous attractions, it is a calming place to be an ideal alternative during vacation."
The booming tourism business has altered the economic structure of Shuifu village. Up to now, 810 villagers are working in the second and third industries.
Overall non-agricultural income has exceeded that from agriculture. In recent years, the central region of the tourism area's per capita average annual income has increased from 4,000 yuan to 32,000 yuan.