Xifeng transforms idle rural houses and boosts economy

Xifeng county renovates idle rural houses into homestays. [Photo/WeChat account of Xifeng county]

Since the beginning of this year, Xifeng county in Guiyang has been actively promoting the pilot reform of its rural homesteads by transforming them into boutique homestays.

Representative of this effort is the boutique homestay project in Pingshang village, which is developed and operated by Guizhou Shuidong Xiangshe Tourism Development Co. The project adopts a model of private capital investment, where rural households contribute their homestead land and enterprises handle construction and operations.

The regional manager of the company stated, "Currently, we have six guest rooms, and since our official opening, we have received over 100 guests. Many visitors will stay for at least half a month during July and August to escape the summer heat."

Apart from idle homesteads, villagers can also contribute their idle rural houses to participate in the development the homestay economy.

The income from these homestays is distributed with 60 percent going to the investors, 20 percent to the villagers, and 20 percent to the operating company. Additionally, 10 percent of the operating company's income is contributed to the village collective.

This profit-sharing mechanism benefits all involved parties, and significantly promotes the branding and standardized development of rural tourism.

Next, Xifeng is determined to promote its completed homestays to a wider audience and will help other eligible villages to join in the homestay industry in order to create a large-scale homestay cluster.