Barren stone quarry turned into rural tourism hub

In a mountain village in Southwest China's Chongqing, a former barren stone quarry has been reborn as a vibrant rural tourism destination through ecological reform and the creation of innovative tourism experiences, setting a benchmark for sustainable development.

Located in Zhonghua village, Jingguan township of Beibei district, the once bustling site of industrial activity is now a vibrant green landscape. Over 20 hectares of peach and plum trees flourish here, accompanied by the elegantly constructed Jibai Villa, a nationally recognized A-level tourist homestay inn.

The transformation of this site is nothing short of remarkable. Visitors are greeted with a diverse range of activities, from rural tourism experiences like flower appreciation and fruit picking to a mining study club and the region's first innkeeper training school.

A newly built 120-square-meter lifestyle aesthetics center offers yoga and Pilates activities, while a stylish restaurant and cafe, converted from former quarry management offices and workshops, serve as social hubs.

According to Zhou Song, the owner, the site attracts up to 1,000 visitors daily during peak seasons, totaling more than 100,000 tourists annually and generating revenue exceeding five million yuan ($698,330). The guesthouse accommodates 400 diners simultaneously and provides stable employment for nearly 30 local villagers, each earning an average annual income of about 50,000 yuan.

In 2022, the village collective economic cooperative invested in Jibai's surrounding projects, increasing the village's annual income by 150,000 yuan.

The story of this transformation began in the early 2000s when Zhou's father leased the land for stone mining. Despite initial economic benefits, excessive mining led to severe environmental degradation. Recognizing the need for change, Zhou's father closed the quarry at the end of 2016.

With a background in architecture, Zhou led his design team to launch a green restoration project in early 2017. The homestay opened in 2020 and quickly became a popular destination. The local government has supported this initiative by providing infrastructure such as a display area for a weekend specialty market, a basketball court, paved roads, and street lighting.

Zhang Deqiang, a mining environmental expert at the China Institute of Geo-Environmental Monitoring, praised the project during a recent field trip. "I've noticed that many ecological restoration projects in Chongqing are supported by industries, primarily thanks to the full use of the region's superb strategic location."

He noted that the mining pit and cultural tourism development in Beibei have enabled the municipality to explore a unique restoration path that addresses historical ecological issues while providing new growth opportunities for rural vitalization.

This initiative is part of a broader effort by the Chongqing Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment, which has restored 7,025 hectares of historically abandoned and closed mines, marking significant progress in ecological protection and restoration.

Zhou said he plans to enhance the site's functionality to draw diverse visitors. He envisions creating a hub for homestays that offer comprehensive services to tourists, thereby attracting more investors interested in agriculture and hospitality.