A natural approach

Big move

Born into a family of farmers in Jingzhou, Hubei province, Xiong first came to Shanghai more than 20 years ago to chase his dreams of becoming an architect. After years of toiling, he eventually experienced success and opened his own firm. He even managed to buy an apartment in downtown Shanghai.

In the eyes of his friends and family, Xiong had made it in life. But Xiong never felt at home in the bustling metropolis. In fact, the yearning to return to the tranquil countryside only got more pronounced over the years.

"I don't think I will ever get used to living in a modern city," he says.

Driven by this desire to return to his roots, Xiong sold his home in Shanghai and moved back to his hometown in Hubei. Five years ago, the family moved to where his wife was from, Chongming Island, as it was more convenient for their two daughters to go to school.

The move from being the boss of his own company to a farmer in Chongming was something many people did not understand. Some might say he had "given up" too much to satisfy his desire of living in the countryside.

"This isn't giving up on what I had. It's a choice," says Xiong. "The truth is that living in the countryside gives us more."