Struggling tea village copes with lost glory

Tourism sought

Blessed with lush foliage and fresh air, the village is also banking on its rural tourism industry.

According to the village head, the Xiamen government has given a green light to a grand, scenic tea-garden project. A tourism center and a culture activity center are already under construction, thanks to an investment from Tong'an district, which administers the village.

As the village has a rich tea culture, visitors can go sightseeing and take part in tea-related activities such as picking and brewing, Gao Quanyang said.

"The hygiene issue that usually affects rural tourism is not a problem in our village," he said.

Its roads are not strewn with trash, nor does the smell of poultry excrement - common in rural parts - permeate the air, he said, adding that the village's six public toilets receive round-the-clock care and are cleaner than some found in large cities.

The village won first place in this year's rural sanitation competition organized by the Xiamen government.

"A comfortable environment must be able to keep tourists longer in the village, which is very important to developing rural tourism," Gao Quanyang said.

When a highway that links the city's downtown and Tong'an district becomes available soon, travelers will have a much easier time getting to the village.

"The next time you come to the village and talk about tea, you'll see no frowns but smiles," Gao Quanyang said.

Contact the writers at humeidong@chinadaily.com.cn and sunli@chinadaily.com.cn