Chinese Current Rural Development Strategy
A small village in Xingping ancient town in Yangshuo County, Guilin City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, South of China, [1]
Developing rural tourism is a significant step forward in Chinese rural development agenda. With an increased demand for leisure by Chinese citizens, Bed and Breakfast(B&B) and the agritainment provide a platform for rural tourism, breaking down the obstacles that prevent rural areas from adapting to contemporary tourism development.[2] As part of China's rural tourist development, the B&B industry has emerged as a new source of rural economic growth and an essential engine of rural regeneration. Since 2011, B&B and agritainment have become very popular in China and have seen a significant increase[3] , contributes to the discovery and preservation of human history and natural environment, as well as to the restoration of the charm of the countryside and the improvement of farmers' living conditions, so supporting the whole tourist business chain.[4]
What I have interviewed SOOLO is a very representative one, which offers similar service types to most B&B and agritainment in China. And the difficulties they encountered are also the common problems facing China's rural tourism industry today.
SOOLO In China
SOOLO was built in 2015 in Yixing,Wuxi, South of China,
owned by Dan Dan and Yan.
Interview on a Chinese Rural B&B Owner
2022.12.1 By Lorie
Dan Dan used to be an insurance salesman and has opened a teahouse and sold tea, and lived in the city before. Then, she moved to the countryside and started a Bed&Breakfest (B&B) business in Yixing, which is located in Yixing, a village in her hometown of Wuxi.
Background
She told me that the land and house for the B&B are owned by a local farmer named Yan, who used to be a photographer. Because the farmer's family had relocated to the city, the house has been vacant for more than 20 years, with no one to live in or care for it. The growing rural tourism business has enticed them to return and go into this new industry. Dan Dan is a partner with the house's owner and she provided financial support for the refurbishment of the ancient house, while Yan was in charge of redesigning it. And they manage this B&B in the countryside together.
When start offering rural tourism
During one of her summer holidays in 2014, she discovered this location in Yixing, Wuxi. Because the area is not over-developed, it is still cultivated, and there are many primaeval hills, the view here is pretty attractive. "I remember that B&B became increasingly popular in China in 2015, and I was fortunate to learn about this sector for the first time." So as soon as she got to know rural tourism, Dan Dan started making plans to enter this field.
She attempted to get in touch with Yan, and both of them expressed strong interest in the talk, so they hit it off right away and spent a year in the countryside transforming the land. They've been in business for roughly six years as of today.
The reason for doing business in rural areas
She was motivated by curiosity and she believed that rural tourism not only has a great potential for economic growth and might help the development of rural areas, moreover it could also help local product sales. She also observed a growing willingness among individuals to travel outside of major cities and get close to nature. Therefore, she thought it's a chance for her.
The rural activities visitors can experience and visit
Today's homestay is a diversified industry. The majority of Chinese B&Bs in rural locations provide additional tourism activities in addition to lodging. They also have a wide range of entertainment options.
They have
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An outdoor swimming pool.
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A sizable lawn for enjoying an outdoor cinema and barbecue.
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A large tea garden for experiencing plucking , drying and brewing of tea.
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A plot of land on the hill enables customers to dig for bamboo shoots.
Otherwise, Dan Dan can also act as a tour guide, taking visitors on hikes in the surrounding pristine mountains and lakes nearby. The two that are most well-liked are fishing and rafting. A neighbouring cycling theme park and giraffe zoo are ideal for dating, business groups, and groups of friends to enjoy outdoor activities.
Changes bring by living in rural area
There are three changes brought by working in a rural area for Dan Dan’s life.
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She cited the lack of a daily commute and the absence of traffic as the primary benefits, which significantly lessen the stress associated with working. She felt calm and free because of the sparse people in the countryside. Additionally, working in the country is relaxing and quiet.
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The utilization of internet booking greatly benefits the B&B industry because her customers can browse and reserve rooms directly online with a 3D view, which means they just need to make a preparation just before they arrive.
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Staying in rural places allows her to learn a variety of farm tasks that she has never attempted before. She seemed to love her work here, as she enjoys watering the flowers, planting veggies, and feeding the animals every day.
Staying in rural places may have a favourable emotional influence as well as assist develop a healthy lifestyle. That is also why more individuals are opting for rural tourism these days.
Positive impacts bring by rural tourism
She told me that :“When I started my career six years ago, there were many things that needed to be improved, such as low signal strength in the countryside, a lack of stores and emergency services, and bad transportation on mountain routes. Rural growth has been fast in recent years. The majority of the causes are that the village has developed a picturesque area industry, which has aided in the growth of rural tourism.Therefore, it is now much better than before. ”
I got to know that infrastructure development was the first step in the strategy to fulfil the demand of an increasing number of visitors and ensure their fundamental needs in Yixing. Furthermore, the countryside routes have been paved, the development of expressways and high-speed railways has made it more convenient for visitors to come here. Particularly Dan Dan has profited from this, and the number of consumers has greatly grown.
Negative impacts bring by rural tourism
Rural tourism still faces a lot of challenges today in Yixing. Firstly, there aren't enough garbage cans around the town. As customers have no sense of protecting the environment and frequently leave their rubbish everywhere, like roads, hills and lakes.
Secondly, as a resort location, people always come to visit during the holidays, and the plants on the mountain are trampled and killed owing to the surge in human traffic over the same period. Because there is no clear design of the tourist footpath, vegetation cannot develop in regions where a big number of people pass. The native woodland ecosystem has suffered significant harm.
According to Dan Dan, the growth of tourism has raised costs in rural regions, putting financial strain on certain low-income people. She believes the government should implement strategies to maintain the wealth disparity in the rural area.
Over the years, China's new rural construction has made rural residents own a large number of "second homes". Residents' vacant houses and farmland provide potential resource reserves for rural tourism development. And more and more urban entrepreneurs have become an important force to promote the development of rural tourism industry.
Reference list
[1] Xi, Z. (2014) , The photographer constantly stick to the light and shadow for everyone to create the most beautiful "fairy". Available at: http://bbs.fengniao.com/forum/3347500.html (Accessed: December 11, 2022).
[2] Zeng, Hai & Chau, Ka Yin & Liu, Xin & Zhong, Kai. (2019). A study on Critical Success Factor in China's B&B Industry.
[3] Zhang, L. (2018). Market segmentation is the key to sustainable operation of B&B. p. 10. Available at: https://doi.org/10.35666/25662880.2018.4.75.
[4]Tian, F. et al. (2022). The impact on bed and breakfast prices: Evidence from airbnb in China. p. 1. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/su142113834.
[5] Source of all images for interview: Green (2022) Team building | Annual meeting | Customer appreciation, Treasure Recommendation: Contracting a piece of land and a building under Longchi Mountain. WeChat. Available at: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/QvXYZOtomwOl8Abkk0zUwQ (Accessed: December 10, 2022).