Homing in on the great outdoors

Zha says: "The villagers are hospitable and Zhao is very efficient and eager to develop the village. Many members of our RV team also volunteered to help with the construction and operation of the RV campsites".

Li Zhifeng, a friend of Zha who worked in environmental planning and design, assisted in the specific designs of the RV campsite, including the color and orientation of the pavilions, ensuring they harmonized with the style of the existing ancient architecture.

Another RV camper, Huang Yunzhong, who works in hotel management, provided training for local villagers on accommodation services processes, encouraging them to open farm stays to increase their income.

"Chen Jianzhen, the Party secretary of Chenjin town, strongly supports the village's RV campsite construction and granted us the title of 'Honorary Villagers'. Living here truly feels like home", Zha says.

To date, the RV campsite has attracted over 20,000 tourists and involved 79 local households in rural tourism. It has also spurred the development of nearby campsites like Qingliang Village RV Campsite and Gaoyang Huagu RV Campsite. It also attracted neighboring towns to learn from Xinhe village's experience.

Currently, the daily rental fee for the Xinhe campsite is 40 yuan ($5.5), the electricity fee is 0.75 yuan per kilowatt-hour, and the monthly rent is 720 yuan. During the off-season, the daily rental fee is 20 yuan. In 2022, the village experimentally constructed four cave campsites with independent bathrooms, kitchens and heated floor systems, each covering 64 square meters, available for a five-year lease at 5,000 yuan per year.