Mountain of opportunity

A popular retreat, steeped in legend and a model of sustainable development, is playing a key role at the Games

In one of China's most widely known legendary tales, it is said that, during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC), Gan Jiang and his wife Mo Ye, the most talented swordsmiths of the day, were given three months to forge a fine sword for their king.

They chose a tranquil place deep in the mountains to finish the task, casting a pair of special swords, one of which was presented by Gan to the king. However, the treacherous king killed Gan so that no better sword could ever be made.

After learning the tragic news, Mo jumped, with the other sword, into the pond that had been used to temper the two blades.

Since then, the two weapons have been dubbed the swords of love, and the mountain upon which they were forged was named "Mogan" — a combination of their family names — in memory of their steadfast love.

Sitting some 60 kilometers away from Hangzhou, the capital city of Zhejiang province, the Mogan Mountain in Moganshan township, Deqing county, Huzhou city, is a blissful idyll to visitors and local residents alike.

With its alluring scenery, the Mogan Mountain, a major tourist attraction, is where the county's bed & breakfast industry is concentrated.

Latest figures in 2022 show that there were nearly 900 registered B&B businesses in the county. As a result, more than 6,000 people have been directly employed in the hospitality sector, and over 3,000 young people of Deqing origin have returned to start similar businesses. Some seven million tourists choose to stay in these B&Bs annually, generating at least 3 billion yuan ($411 million) in revenue.

What makes the B&Bs near the Mogan Mountain unique is its 150-odd yangjiale — literally meaning "homestays of foreign bliss" — a form of rural tourism that targets relatively high-end customers such as foreign tourists, expats and white-collar urban residents from neighboring cities like Hangzhou and Shanghai.

In 2007, on his cycling trip to the mountain, a South African named Grant Horsfield (known to the locals as Gao Tiancheng) was instantly attracted by its idyllic beauty.

He decided to rent six traditional but run-down houses at 10,000 yuan each a year for 15 years, and then renovated them, turning them into homestays. At the time, most of the locals thought him completely mad. However, the homestays soon began to see flocks of travelers arrive from across China and abroad.

In 2011, Horsfield and his architect wife, Delphine Yip, remodeled nearby stables, integrating cutting-edge technologies with traditional building methods for rural houses. They named the new luxury resort "Naked Retreats", which caters mostly to eco-friendly travelers.

The idea caught on, and he was quickly followed by other foreign businessmen who wanted to try their luck in the area.

As one of China's "Four Best Summer Resorts", the Mogan Mountain was already a popular destination way back in the 1800s, attracting missionaries and well-to-do foreigners. This continued into the 20th century as it became a retreat for prominent figures and politicians. Although it seemed to have lost some of the luster in the past few decades, the Mogan Mountain has regained its popularity with a new generation of domestic and overseas tourists looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and seeking a sense of peace and serenity in the natural world.

Indeed, Deqing is quite the embodiment of the idea that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets", which President Xi Jinping first raised on Aug 15, 2005 in Huzhou city — which encompasses Deqing.

Since then, Huzhou city has been on a sustainable development path, with an improved environment, greener industries and wealthier residents.

In late June this year, Chinese legislators decided to make Aug 15 the county's National Ecology Day at a session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress, the top legislature.

Advanced technologies have also been applied for a greener future.

In 2022, the United Nations Global Geospatial Knowledge and Innovation Center was inaugurated in Deqing. It will further help the international community leverage geographic information technologies to address challenges related to natural resources, climate change and public health security, and implement the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

At the ongoing 19th Asian Games, the county is hosting events, including the 3x3 basketball and volleyball competitions.

Deqing has hosted numerous 3x3 competitions since 2002, according to Ying Zaifei, vice-president of the Deqing Basketball Association.

"We have arranged basketball competitions almost every week, including tournaments for college students, local companies and various age groups," he said. "The new venue has really enhanced the atmosphere of these competitions."

Deqing county, and indeed the whole of Huzhou city, has been abuzz with the excitement about the Asian Games. Official statistics show that some 1,000 professional and public events were held at the Asian Games venues in the first eight months of 2023, and over 28,000 people enjoyed free access to the city's sports venues during the public holidays.