Airbnb lands in rural China

The company is working to advance the shared economy to alleviate poverty, Yang Feiyue reports from Jinjiang village, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

Liao Weiwei is planning to quit his job at the Longji scenic spot next year.

The 31-year-old lives in Jinjiang village in the countryside surrounding the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region's scenic city, Guilin. He wants to quit as Airbnb has set its sight on development in Jinjiang, which is about 10 kilometers from Longji's celebrated rice terraces, since October 2017.

Many villagers have migrated to cities. Those who remain have continued to live with poverty.

Now, six rooms converted from two villagers' houses perched on a mountainside offer modern facilities for guests.

"They were poorly furnished and dimly lit," Liao says.

The rooms are fully booked now, although it's an offseason for tourism, he says.

Longji's tourism peaks from April to October.

"I believe tourism will take off in my village," Liao says.

"I'll be able to get in on the sector and spend more time with my family."

Jinjiang has a pristine environment and ethnic diversity.

It is located on the main road leading to Longji's rice terraces that lure hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.