In the tea-tasting room, Zhu Wenxiang was recommending self-produced tea to tourists. Zhu, 40 years old, is from Yongzhou City, Hunan Province. Four years ago, he came to Xiling Village to invest 2 million yuan with his father-in-law to open this homestay called “Qingchuang Xiaozhu”. The first floor is for catering services, and the second, third, and fourth floors have more than ten guest rooms. In his spare time, he makes a Yongzhou blood duck for tourists. 

 

 

“The normal occupancy rate is 50% or 60% in the off-season, but it’s definitely full in the peak season,” said Zhu. He has full confidence in the future of tourism in the village. He added, “The environment of Mangshan Mountain is very good now, attracting more and more tourists. We are very confident in the overall tourism industry of Mangshan Mountain.”

 

Tan Suling, almost 60 years old, is a local villager and also the butler of the homestay inn. When tourist check out in the morning, she begins to clean rooms to create a warm living environment for afternoon visitors.

 

Tan said that at her age, she couldn’t find jobs and she never expected to have a job at her doorstep.

 

 

Relying on the advantages of adjacent Mangshan Mountain Scenic Area and the newly developed Mangshan Mountain Grand Canyon Rafting terminal here, Xiling Village has become a popular tourist destination with its excellent ecological and natural resources and beautiful rural scenery.

 

The perfect rural scenery can be seen through the window. A tourist from Chenzhou said that there is comfortable environment, simple folk customs and many delicious dishes.

 

 

In Xiling Village, over 50% of the villagers run homestay inns or restaurants. At present, the village has 37 characteristic homestay inns, with an annual tourist reception of 200,000 people and a per capita income increase of 3,000 yuan. This year, the village collective economy will exceed 300,000 yuan.

 

In order to help villagers with stable income, Xiling Village has also developed characteristic industries such as tea and fish farming, and regularly held folk activities with unique local characteristics such as door banquets, Yao drum competitions, and bonfire parties. Taking the advantage of the second Hunan Tourism Development Conference held in Chenzhou, it has improved the tourism environment and enriched the cultural and tourism formats to enhance the experience of tourists.

 

 

Next, Xiling Village will establish a Tourism Development Association to standardize rural tourism services and transform beautiful scenery into sources of income.