A street that's paved with gold

"I've been busy during the peak tourism season, particularly from May to July," says Zhang. "Both tourists and locals would come for a drink with their friends to enjoy the peaceful, inviting summer evenings."

A big screen has been set up in the bar, onto which she can project movies or sports games for visitors to watch.

"Soccer fans usually stay up late to watch games in my bar. Sometimes I can't shut the bar until 5 am," she says. "However, the busy period is always fulfilling for me."

During the off-peak season, she sometimes finds part-time jobs to fill her day or just chooses to enjoy a life of leisure.

"Opening a bar in my hometown enables me to live an easy, comfortable life. Basically, I can manage my time as I please. It also means that I can take good care of my daughter and my parents," she adds.

Next to Zhang's bar is a nicely decorated courtyard and a three-story building shaded by several verdant trees. It's Bakitgul Berdibek's house which, in 2016, she turned into a homestay business.

"We used to only offer accommodation to tourists. As the number of customers surged this year, we've launched a catering service for them as well," she says.

A yurt furnished with exquisite tapestries sits in the center of the yard. Inside, visitors enjoy a cup of tea and sample some local desserts, enjoying a chilled-out moment in the pleasant, Kazak-style surroundings.

"I plan to rent a nearby house from my neighbor to expand my homestay next year," she says.

Homestays are becoming a new area of growth in Tekes county's tourism industry. The county boasts around 260 homestays which engage more than 1,000 people in the hospitality industry. Meanwhile, 13 more homestays are under construction, according to Shen Yanan, deputy director of the county's culture and tourism bureau.

Shen says the bureau has organized a group of experts to give homestay owners practical instruction on how to decorate their homestays and how to better operate their businesses.