Xiapu, a seaside county in southeast China's Fujian Province, boasts its beautiful scenery and characteristic homestay business.
NINGDE, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- Scattered along the coast at Sansha Town, over 50 homestays are engaged in ecological tourism to date. Taking advantage of unique natural resources, the homestay industry here has helped increase incomes of local people as well as improve their living conditions in an eco-friendly way.
Photo taken with mobile phone on Oct. 1, 2020 shows the scenery at seaside in Dongbi Village at Sansha Town of Xiapu County in Ningde, southeast China's Fujian Province. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)
Photo taken on Sept. 30, 2020 shows the sea view as seen from Dongbi Village at Sansha Town of Xiapu County in Ningde, southeast China's Fujian Province.(Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)
Photo taken on Sept. 30, 2020 shows the sea view as seen from the homestay "Shijianhai" in Dongbi Village at Sansha Town of Xiapu County in Ningde, southeast China's Fujian Province. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)
Chen Shuman gestures at her homestay named "Shijianhai" in Dongbi Village at Sansha Town of Xiapu County in Ningde, southeast China's Fujian Province, Sept. 29, 2020. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)
"Xiapu County should be always unspoiled and simply the way it was, such is the hometown where my heart belongs... After 16-year rootless life in big cities, running a homestay here now leads me to the idyllic life I desired in my country home ..." wrote Chen Shuman, owner of the homestay named "Shijianhai", in her diary.
Chen Shuman and her husband Liu Zhongmin started their business in Beijing as fresh graduates in 2003. After a visit to her hometown in Xiapu, the magnificent and picturesque scenery at seaside inspired them with the idea of running a homestay, which since then had been lingering in their mind for years.
In 2016, the couple started doing surveys on the development of homestay industry in hometown and finally made up their mind to commence their new cause with a four-story building at Dongbi Village of Sansha Town in Xiapu County. Re-designing and decorating the building, the couple used their specialized knowledge learned in universities in an attempt to make it an ideal residence.
Distinct in style and comfortable to stay, their homestay has received over 200,000 visits of tourists since its opening in August 2017. During the last eight-day National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, more than 3,000 visitors spent their leisure time here.
Photo taken with mobile phone on Sept. 30, 2020 shows a view of the homestay "Shijianhai" in Dongbi Village at Sansha Town of Xiapu County in Ningde, southeast China's Fujian Province. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)
Photo taken on Sept. 30, 2020 shows the scenery as seen from the homestay "Shijianhai" at in Dongbi Village at Sansha Town of Xiapu County in Ningde, southeast China's Fujian Province. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)
Chen Shuman (1st L), owner of the homestay named "Shijianhai", talks with customers in Dongbi Village at Sansha Town of Xiapu County in Ningde, southeast China's Fujian Province, Sept. 29, 2020. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)
Chen Shuman, owner of the homestay named "Shijianhai", discusses working plans for the eight-day National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday with a staff member in Dongbi Village at Sansha Town of Xiapu County in Ningde, southeast China's Fujian Province, Sept. 29, 2020. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)
Chen Shuman (L) takes care of the plants at her homestay named "Shijianhai" in Dongbi Village at Sansha Town of Xiapu County in Ningde, southeast China's Fujian Province, Sept. 29, 2020. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)
Chen Shuman, owner of the homestay named "Shijianhai", helps customers carry baggage in Dongbi Village at Sansha Town of Xiapu County in Ningde, southeast China's Fujian Province, Sept. 29, 2020. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)
Tourists pose for photos at the homestay "Shijianhai" in Dongbi Village at Sansha Town of Xiapu County in Ningde, southeast China's Fujian Province, Sept. 29, 2020. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)
Photo taken on Oct. 1, 2020 shows the scenery at seaside in Dongbi Village at Sansha Town of Xiapu County in Ningde, southeast China's Fujian Province. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)
Manager Hongwei introduces the homestay "Haiqinxuan" in Huazhu Village at Sansha Town of Xiapu County in Ningde, southeast China's Fujian Province, Sept. 29, 2020. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)
Hong Wei, a local from Huazhu Village of Sansha Town in Xiapu County, has another story about the homestay industry here. Like most young people at the village in previous years, he once worked as a migrant worker in other places. Looking at the traditional but dilapidated houses in the village, Hong and his brother determined to convert the buildings into a homestay with local characteristics and develop rural tourism. With great efforts, they succeeded. At present, they have not only benefited from the homestay "Haiqinxuan", but also brought job opportunities to their fellow villagers.
Photo taken on Oct. 1, 2020 shows a view of the homestay "Haiqinxuan" in Huazhu Village at Sansha Town of Xiapu County in Ningde, southeast China's Fujian Province. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)
Photo taken on Oct. 1, 2020 shows a view of the homestay "Haiqinxuan" in Huazhu Village at Sansha Town of Xiapu County in Ningde, southeast China's Fujian Province. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)
Photo taken on Sept. 29, 2020 shows entrances of homestays in Dongbi Village at Sansha Town of Xiapu County in Ningde, southeast China's Fujian Province. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)
Photo taken on Oct. 1, 2020 shows the sea view as seen from Huazhu Village at Sansha Town of Xiapu County in Ningde, southeast China's Fujian Province. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)
Photo taken on Oct. 1, 2020 shows the sea view as seen from Dongbi Village at Sansha Town of Xiapu County in Ningde, southeast China's Fujian Province. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)
Photo taken with mobile phone on Sept. 29, 2020 shows the night view at seaside in Dongbi Village at Sansha Town of Xiapu County in Ningde, southeast China's Fujian Province. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)
Supervisors: Liu Jie, Gu Qianjiang
Producers: Meng Zhaoli, Wang Jianhua, Jiang Kehong
Directors: Wei Peiquan, Hou Dongtao, An Xiya
Photographer: Wei Peiquan
Editors: Zhang Shanchen, Jin Linpeng, An Xiya, Jin Haoyuan, Zhao Yusi, Meng Tao, Wu Xia
Video Editor: Jin Haoyuan
