Since the beginning of the summer vacation, the business of homestay accommodation has been booming at the Zengjiashan scenic spot in Chaotian district, Guangyuan, Gansu province. Thirty local families offering the service cannot believe they are making good money.

Zengjia Mountain boasts an excellent natural environment featuring an average annual temperature of 12°C, an average summer temperature of 23°C, a forest coverage rate of 74 percent, and an air content of more than 20,000 negative oxygen ions per cubic centimeter.

Tourists enjoy their hours in Zengjiashan scenic spot in Guangyuan, Sichuan province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

With the growth of tourism in recent years, the local people have vigorously developed the homestay accommodation economy by taking advantage of the pleasant mountain and water resources.

"Developing rural tourism is one of the most correct choices that have been made," said Liu Xingdong, head of Bugubugu Homestay, a local homestay service company. Liu returned to his hometown in 2017 and started the business in the tourism industry.

Bugubugu currently employs around 30 local villagers, and their wages range from more than 3,000 yuan  ($468)  to 6,000 yuan per month.

The business has entered the peak season since June, said Zhao Yong, owner of a farmhouse in Yongle Village, Chaotian. "The average monthly income reached 30,000 yuan, much higher than what I earned working outside," Zhao added.

To date, the Zengjia Mountain scenic area has built 39 high-end boutique homestays, of which 13 have an investment of more than 10 million yuan. In addition, the area also has 29 provincial-level forest family homestays and three provincial-level forest health care bases.

As the tourism industry thrives, related industries such as farmhouses, villas, orchards, catering, hotels, and small commodity retailing around the scenic spot developed rapidly.

Since 2021, the comprehensive tourism revenue of Chaotian district has reached 10 billion yuan, and the tourism industry has created jobs for more than 70,000 people. The tourism industry's contribution rate to GDP reached 25.7 percent.