Pastures of possibility

At the facility offering coffee and pizza that the 30-year-old opened last year in Zhenzhong village, Wangdian town, patrons pause mid-sip to watch a vintage green locomotive rumble past just meters away. This fusion of specialty coffee and nostalgic rail travel has become the bistro's signature draw.

Shou's journey began in 2015, when she was a corporate trainer dreaming of opening a cafe. After years of planning and a pandemic-induced delay, she and her business partner made a bold decision in 2022: abandon the oversaturated urban cafe scene.

"We realized the market was saturated with copycat coffee shops, while villages are becoming popular getaways, where it is much cheaper to start a business," Shou recalls.

Their search led them to a derelict 1950s railway staff quarters in the village, where they spent 14 months negotiating for the property and another five months transforming the overgrown site.

The preserved retro architecture now houses a light-filled cafe, complete with mismatched vintage furniture and a honeycomb-paneled bar built by a local craftsman.

When she shared the renovation on social media Xiaohongshu, or Red-Note, followers eagerly asked when it would open.

Despite its remote location, Daoshang Bistro achieved remarkable daily revenues of 17,000-18,000 yuan in its first few months.

Urban visitors from Shanghai, Zhejiang's provincial capital Hangzhou and beyond have made the pilgrimage.

"There's something magical about watching a train pass while sipping your latte," Shou says, echoing customer feedback.

Motorcycle clubs have become major clients, making up nearly 40 percent of weekend business.

Looking ahead, Shou plans to expand into the cafe's 2,000-square-meter backyard, turning it into a pet-friendly area with dog pools and self-service pet washing.

"Just imagine how happy it will be for people to swim with their pets," she says.