Tourism revitalizes China's northernmost village

A growing number of backpackers and self-driving tourists swarm into the village, thus bringing instant economic opportunities for local farmers.

"We served dishes made of home-grown vegetables and food materials," said Zhang Chunbo, owner of a local homestay.

Zhang started her own business with her husband a few years ago. Now, her rooms are always fully booked during the peak seasons.

Like Zhang, half of the villagers in Beihong village work in tourism-related industries, running a total of 72 family hotels and homestays.

In 2018, registered poverty-stricken households in Beihong Village all bid farewell to poverty. In 2021, the per capita income of the village exceeded 20,000 yuan (about $2,880).

To ensure a sustainable increase in the income of villagers, the village has made further investments in the maintenance of roads and improvement of the public environment.

"Poverty alleviation is not the destination of our efforts," said Shi, adding that leading villagers toward prosperity and happiness is their ultimate goal. "We plan to build new orchards, develop more local specialties, and open an amusement park to attract more customers and further revitalize our economy," he added.