Hong Feijin (first from left) and Qiu Yongliang (second from left), from the Xiaodeng community, tell visitors stories about their island. [Photo/xmnn.cn]

Xiaodeng, a small island that used to be a fishing village in Xiamen, has pledged to seek tourism development and attract tourists from home and abroad.

Hong Feijin and Qiu Yongliang, current and former officials in the community came together at the island and told stories of Xiaodeng's history to the visitors.

Qiu, the former official of Xiaodeng and one of the pioneers of Xiaodeng's development, said that the small island, which covers 88 hectares and offers visitors beautiful coastline scenery and traditional fishing culture, bears little resemblance to what it was over three decades' years ago. The residents on the island lived a hard life at that time and depended solely on fishing for a living.

However, the local people have been committed to hard work and selfless dedication during the island's recent development, and the island now looks very different from its former self.

Like a pretty pearl in the sea, Xiaodeng island faces Jinmen in Taiwan across the sea. Over 40 traditional houses with antique red brick walls have been updated to offer comprehensive facilities to tourists.

Hong said that Xiaodeng is grasping its opportunities to prosper from a tourism boom on this beautiful island.

Over 40 renovated traditional houses offer good facilities to tourists on this beautiful island. [Photo/xmnn.cn]