Valley of roses

In Xiaotiefo village, which is close to the company, a museum showcases the history of Huangcheng from the 1950s to the 1990s, managing to attract many tourists.

The museum, which opened to the public in September, was converted from a private house that was built in 1951.

Porcelain plates with images of traditional village food and historical events hang on the walls. Old-fashioned bicycles, farming tools, old radio sets and a stone table, old currency from the People's Bank of China's predecessor Beihai Bank are exhibits that tell their own stories of the past.

"Many visitors come to see the village and experience fruit-picking," Wu Wenbo, Party secretary of Xiaotiefo village, says.

Lots of people gather at the village plaza to sing and dance, sometimes even stage performances at night, and people from outside come to enjoy local celebrations, too, he says.

At the Maliantai scenic spot that is near Huangcheng, Zhu Limin runs a business on a hill that offers a view of the surrounding area.

The government has arranged for homestay owners like her to travel within China and abroad and learn from advanced tourism experiences, such as Japan and Europe.

"I add a few bells and whistles every time I get an inspiration," Zhu says.

She can make 15,000 yuan on a weekend now and usually take in 30,000 guests a year.

However, things were quite different when her family started the business in 2002.

"There was no water and electricity here, and few people came," she says.

"Things have picked up a lot," Zhu adds.

The local government has invested more than 30 million yuan to develop cycling routes and green belts at the Maliantai scenic spot.

In addition to offering meals, Zhu also offers such activities, such as floral arrangements and field trips, to her guests. There are more than 20 households that provide what is known as "agricultural entertainment", and locals are not worried about finding jobs anymore.

Some elderly people also make money from selling snacks in the streets.

Contact the writer at yangfeiyue@chinadaily.com.cn