Fujian raftsman making life more than just staying afloat

Drifting down the Shangqing Stream in East China's Fujian province on a bamboo raft is no less than a treat, both to the eyes as well as the ears. Apart from breathtaking views of the Danxia landform, lush forests and tranquil streams, visitors are also captivated by raftsman Huang Shengteng's melodious singing, humorous observations and enthusiastic conversation.

As Huang and his wife take turns to skillfully steer the raft with bamboo poles, Huang chats to the tourists on board, sharing local anecdotes, geological knowledge and even discussing with them the latest domestic and international news.

"The standard tour guide script was rather boring, so I started incorporating what I had learned. Over time, I developed my own lively and humorous style of connecting with the guests," the 55-year-old said.

Occasionally, when interacting with foreign visitors, he throws in a few English words or phrases. "Sometimes we host international guests, and speaking a bit of English helps," Huang said, adding that a sincere and warm smile and body language are useful as communication tools.

Rafting on the Shangqing Stream is not an easy task. It usually takes one and a half hours to finish the whole journey as the stream — located in northeast Taining county, Sanming city — stretches over 16 kilometers, requiring rafters to have great physical stamina.

Each trip down the stream requires Huang to push the bamboo pole over 10,000 times. During the peak summer tourist season, on some days the surge of visitors is such that it requires him to make three or four trips.

Huang still remembers guiding famous Chinese television host Zhu Xun on a sunset trip down the stream, during which the two discussed Taining's history and culture.

"Zhu said she was very happy to chat with me and after the trip, while shaking hands with me, was surprised to notice I had so many calluses on my hands," Huang said.

The calluses are testimony to the physical labor he does. "Farmers create everything with their bare hands," Huang told her.

Born in a small village called Changxing, Huang grew up in a poor family that relied on farming, earning only about 2,000 yuan ($280) a year.

Life was hard and opportunities rare for Huang at that time. After he graduated from high school and failed his college entrance exams in 1988, Huang worked as a farmer and occasionally did odd jobs in the county, earning a meager daily wage of 10 yuan.

Huang recalled that in the early 1990s, when Shangqing Stream was just an abandoned waterway, tourism was a distant concept.

His life saw opportunities for change when Taining county decided to develop the stream as a tourist destination in 1994.

With its special scenery, the stream offers a perfect spot for bamboo rafting, an activity that soon became a hallmark of local tourism.

At that time, the pay for rafters was quite high — 25 yuan for one trip down the stream, while regular labor jobs paid around 25 yuan for an entire day, Huang said.

"On days when there were more tourists, it was possible to do one or two trips, so the income was attractive. I was really keen to get this job."

However, Huang's entry into the profession was far from smooth. When the local authorities began recruiting raft workers, he applied but was not selected because he could not swim, which is a must for the job. "You have to know how to swim, in order to be able to rescue yourself and the passengers in the event of an accident," Huang said.

He was quite depressed and spent six months learning to swim. In 1999, his determination and efforts paid off, and he finally secured the position of a rafter.

During the peak tourist season, a typical day in Huang's life starts before dawn and ends after dusk. "We only have 10 to 15 minutes to have some food and rest while the bamboo rafts are being taken to the dock in the upper reaches of the stream, from where the rafting trips begin, to prepare for the next trip."

"One or two trips are manageable, but by the third or fourth, fatigue sets in. By the time I am done for the day and return home, I'm so exhausted that I can barely lift my chopsticks to eat," Huang said.

He added that there's no rest for him and his wife throughout the year as they have to balance rafting with farming. "I don't even have time to visit the county town for leisure."

A single trip down the stream earns him 50 yuan now. During the offseason, the couple supplements their earnings by farming, primarily growing tobacco and rice, and they can earn around 150,000 yuan a year.

Despite the physical toll, Huang has stuck with the job for 25 years. "Looking back, it feels like time has flown by, and all the hardships seem like distant memories."

Over the past 25 years, Huang has also witnessed the efforts made by local authorities for ecological protection and improvements in the local environment.

"The mountains are greener, the water is clearer, and such an environment provides visitors with a more comfortable experience," he said.

Clean streets, eco-friendly farming practices, and a growing number of businesses reflect the positive changes that tourism has brought to the region, he said.

Huang said that the excellent ecological environment has attracted more tourists, which has not only increased demand for rafters but also boosted the county's tourism and other related industries.

"Many young people no longer need to leave their hometowns for work, they can find a job right at their doorstep," he said, adding that from running guesthouses to offering transportation services, locals have found new ways to earn a living.

Tourism is the county's pillar industry. Last year, Taining's total tourism revenue reached nearly 7.6 billion yuan, and attracted nearly 9 million visitors, according to local statistics.

Currently, nearly one-fifth of the county's population is involved in the tourism industry, with the tertiary industry, dominated by tourism, accounting for more than one-third of the county's GDP, Rao Xiujian, deputy head of Taining county, said earlier.

Huang's outstanding performance at work has also won him prestigious titles, including "Champion-Level Raftsman" and "Gold Medal Guide". He was also honored as a national model worker.

"Actually I'm an ordinary person and I haven't made any grand accomplishments. I'm just trying to do my best at my job. And through the platform of tourism, I've been able to realize my own sense of purpose and value in life," he said.

"These honors spurred me to continue improving and providing better services. I hope to encourage more raft workers and villagers to learn from the spirit of model workers, and strive for excellence, which I think will help further elevate the quality of tourism in Taining."