Xinjiang village an idyllic spot for inns

Since opening her first homestay inn in July in the Pingxiliang village of Urumqi county in Urumqi city, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Xie Chengyu has become more confident about building a better future in the idyllic village.

"I have fulfilled my dream of running a homestay inn that I've had since high school, and I'm already renovating my second inn in the village," said the 24-year-old woman from Yangzhou, Jiangsu province. "This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. I believe I can seek a better future here."

Xie first visited Pingxiliang in the summer of 2020, spending her vacation at a local homestay inn.

"I was captivated by the village's beauty — without city noise, it's surrounded only by green mountains while the air is filled with the fragrance of grass and trees," she said. "After that, I visited the village for three consecutive vacations, witnessing the scenery through all four seasons."

Gradually, an idea began to take shape. "I wanted to open my first homestay inn in this comforting Xinjiang village," she said.

When she shared her idea with her parents, they decided to visit Pingxiliang, where the enthusiasm of the village cadres reassured them of her choice.

"They introduced the village's homestay inn development plan to my parents," she said. "After analyzing different locations' advantages in terms of traffic and scenery, my parents quickly selected several potential sites for my future inn."

After completing her graduate studies overseas at Curtin Singapore in August 2024, Xie headed straight to Pingxiliang to fulfill her dream.

By mid-September that same year, she finalized the inn's location and immediately began renovations.

"I had prepared for the slow progress of the project, but things went smoother than expected," she said. "The village committee helped connect me with a reliable local construction team. They also advised me on choosing thick windows and adding insulation due to the sharp temperature difference in the morning and evening."

While applying for business licenses, Li Guiqin, the village Party secretary, provided her with a checklist and guided her through each step.

"Thanks to the joint service guidance mechanism initiated by the county's cultural and tourism bureau and 10 other departments, I could complete all procedures in just one week instead of the usual 20 days," she said. "Therefore, the homestay's opening wasn't just a result of my own efforts, but also a result of the sincere support from the village."

Now, Xie is busy refining service details — decorating the lobby with unique items collected during her overseas studies and providing different bedding options for guests depending on the temperature.

She also frequently visits the other 60 homestay inns in the village to exchange experiences with their owners.

"I plan to incorporate design ideas from my studies, such as setting up chairs on the terrace for stargazing. I also hope to make my inn pet-friendly to welcome more families with pets," she said.

"When my business becomes stable, I want to bring the village's experience back to my hometown," she added. "Maybe one day it can become a national chain, but wherever I open my inn, I will always keep the warmth of Pingxiliang and the sincerity of Xinjiang's countryside in my heart."

More than two decades ago, Pingxiliang was the poorest village in Urumqi county.

With only dry land and farming reliant on the weather, many young villagers left to work elsewhere, according to Li.

The turning point came in 2004 when the village attracted investment to develop a ski resort, which required the community to be relocated and new homes built.

By 2008, all 306 households had moved to a new village with modern facilities and improved surroundings, laying the foundation for rural tourism through projects such as agritourism, ski resorts and horse rentals.

In 2016, the 13th National Winter Games were held in Urumqi.

Capitalizing on the event's brand effect, the Silk Road Mountain Resort in the village rose to prominence, attracting tourists from across the country and abroad.

In 2019, Pingxiliang brought in Shenzhen Jiexi Tourism Investment, transforming 44 homes into homestay inns with villagers' consent.

Now, Pingxiliang is a model for rural vitalization, with 79 percent of the village's labor force engaged in tourism. The per capita annual income has reached 39,600 yuan ($5,560), with tourism accounting for more than 70 percent.

Villagers who once worked elsewhere have returned to start businesses such as homestays or find tourism-related jobs such as ski instructors and scenic area workers.

Bazirbek Adil, a 35-year-old villager, began his ski instructor career in 2009 after obtaining certification.

With professional skills and a patient teaching style, he has won praise from numerous tourists. His wife has been running a restaurant at the resort's food court for seven years, earning a strong reputation for authentic flavors, affordable prices and friendly service.

"The development of Pingxiliang has indeed brought a lot of benefits to everyone," he said. "I believe that with the continuous prosperity of the local tourism industry, our future life will become even better."