Homing in on success

President Xi Jinping visited Tianpudawan in September 2019 to learn about its rural tourism and revitalization by red tourism resources, during an inspection tour in Henan province. He bought a pair of insoles, which made the product a quick seller.

In 2014, as a pilot program to develop a "beautiful village", Xinxian invested about 22 million yuan to improve the village's infrastructure, environment and public services. According to Wang Weidong, head of Tianpu township, Tianpudawan has welcomed 400,000 tourist visits from January to April. The number for the same period last year was 750,000.

Deng Xiqin, a tourist to the village in late April, says she and her colleagues visited the village as part of activities to learn the history of the Party. "The beauty of traditional Chinese villages, which are often surrounded by waters and mountains, is well preserved," she says.

Wang says the most special part of the village is that locals don't need to move out and actively join in the development of tourism, either by running their own business or working for others. He adds they also keep the traditional design and structure of buildings.

"Tourism brings more jobs and has attracted more than 10 families back. It's a way to promote rural vitalization," he says, adding that the average annual per capita income has grown from 3,000 to 4,000 yuan before 2015 to as high as 18,000 yuan now.