The mansion of Yao Yusan, a courageous big brother who led the way to work overseas in 1892, is now a museum showcasing his family traditions. [Photo by Zhang Xiang/chinadaily.com.cn]

His overseas experience and vision gave him a sense of business opportunities in local culture and rural tourism, which added to his feelings for his family residence.

"The casualness and convenience of young people taking photos and sharing them online inspired me to design my old house into a hub for photography enthusiasts and other tourists," Huang said.

His house has become popular with art students, who at times come to visit Huang and let their imaginations run wild at the house's elegant courtyard and water displays.

Much like Huang, many local residents have found their own way to combine today's business opportunities with their family memories.

Their start-up ideas coincide nicely with the local government's proposal to develop Dongda and its surrounding areas into a maker space featuring the clear Garlic Stream, cultural memories of the century-old mansions, idyllic rape flower fields, and first-hand experiences of fruit picking.

A total of 1.2 billion yuan will be invested by the government as a seed of novel rural development.

Huang Chengquan, a Dongda village official, said the maker space was a platform for creative people and their start-up businesses.

"I'm sure the creative ideas will support each other and propel the rapid development of local tourism," Huang said.

That outcome will please local villagers whose income should rise, and will no doubt bring smiles to the Putian natives who have gone far away in search of prosperity, following a trail made by Yao and others more than a century ago.