Villages hit their goals

The phenomenal success of the soccer event has been a huge boost to the growth of the local economy.

The county received more than 3.3 million visitors during the competition, up 131.8 percent as compared with the same period of the previous year, according to the county government.

Tourism revenue had exceeded 3.8 billion yuan, up 164 percent year-on-year.

During the Rongjiang Village Super League, farm produce sales across the county reached 401 million yuan, up 58 percent.

A total of 204 restaurants opened following the event, and more than 80 percent of the hotel rooms and homestays have been booked, according to the county government.

"It gives rural vitalization a great boost," Xu says.

Natural attraction

If sports have played a vital role in changing Rongjiang people's life, it's the natural southern landscape that has paid dividends in Yucun village, Anji county of Zhejiang province.

Gurgling streams and layers of lush foliage, mainly green bamboos, rustling in the wind, make for a refreshing and delightful sight the moment visitors set foot in the village.

In 2005, the concept of "lush mountains and lucid waters" being invaluable assets originated from Yucun.

"In the morning, you can ride bikes along the trails in the sunshine, breathe in the mountain air, and you can get closer to nature in the abandoned quarries, which have been transformed into camping grounds," says Zhang Yun, a local resident.

"At noon, you can enjoy a game of flying discs on the big grassy lawn, go to the library in the afternoon to see exhibitions, and in the evening, there are occasional light shows and murder mystery games," Zhang says, adding that the rural tourism offerings are becoming increasingly diverse.