Homing in on success

He wants to rent other villagers' houses to expand his business, but it is too hard, as "they want to run their own business too", he says.

He can easily recall when the village seemed no different from many other unknown villages; young people eager to leave to make money, leaving behind the elderly to do farming and take care of children. Now, with more outsiders flowing in, the sense of isolation is over and villagers seem more vigorous, Han says.

The village has 21 homestays, eight restaurants and stores that sell handicrafts and specialties, and offer entertainment to better serve tourists, according to the local government.

At a store selling handmade insoles, Hu Yourong, 52, is busy embroidering a pair. She earns 1,500 yuan a month and started at the store last year. She says many women of her age are making insoles, too, to sell to tourists, with each pair costing 100 yuan. "Before, we planted peanuts and rice and wore the insoles mainly ourselves," she says.