The courtyard of a cafe in Chishi village, Yunhe county. [Photo/WeChat account: ls-mnews]

With the rise of rural tourism, more and more people are settling in the countryside of Yunhe county – administered by Lishui city in East China's Zhejiang province – to start a business. Coffee has become a special force in the county's rural revitalization.

In 2020, Gong Meijuan visited Chishi village in Yunhe county with her friends and was attracted by the village immediately.

"Let's open a cafe here!" With the support of her friends, Gong rented a house in Chishi village for 20,000 yuan ($3,149) a year. After some simple renovations, she opened a cafe in October that year. With a brick courtyard and wooden plank decorations, it is an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city life.

Gong Meijuan's cafe welcomes visitors in Chishi village. [Photo/WeChat account: ls-mnews]

"We have five stalls that have been rented out and are now cafes and bars. It's just amazing," said Shang Liuyue, a 70-year-old villager from Chishi. He never thought that his idle dirty and broken cattle stall could be transformed into a popular destination for tourists.

The cafes not only let rural people get the chance to taste coffee, but also add a touch of vitality for common prosperity, according to a person in charge of the Yunhe county culture, tourism, and sports bureau.