Wish Garden Rural Tourism Resort Boutique Hotel in Yixian county – administered by Huangshan city in Anhui province – has turned four villages into boutique homestays and in the process has greatly increased the incomes of local farmers.
Nearly 85 percent of the original villagers from the four villages – namely Huaichuan, Dachuan, Songchuan and Qinglingshan village – had moved out one after another, due to the inconvenient traffic and backward economy.
Those abandoned villages have been transformed, with uncultivated wasteland reclaimed into woodland, tea gardens and cultivated land. What's more, polluted water sources were treated in a recyclable water system and original footpaths were upgraded into smooth landscaped roads.
Even old trees, which were on the verge of death, are now well protected.
With the protection, rational development and utilization of the natural resources, Wish Garden has completed the projects without changing the original landscape and has boosted the earnings of locals.
Apart from a land transfer fee worth more than 20 million yuan ($2.81 million), employment priority was also given to villagers in construction projects. Moreover, male farmers over the age of 60 and female farmers over 55 can each enjoy a monthly special funds subsidy of 300 yuan.
Since trials operation kicked off in the Spring Festival in 2022, the hotel has received more than 3,500 tourists and generated more than 10 million yuan in revenue.
The sun goes down in the idyllic Wish Garden in Yixian county. [Photo/WeChat ID: gh_fddd8e6b4139]
Boutique homestay: Wish Garden is attracting plenty of folks looking for a perfect rural experience. [Photo/WeChat ID: gh_fddd8e6b4139]