Gingko village: Golden leaves invite in visitors

Editor's note: The Jiangdong village in southwest Yunnan’s Tengchong city used to be stricken by poverty due to its poor transport facilities. Based on the continuous gingko woods there, Jiangdong focused on rural tourism. The villagers opened farm canteens and rural inns; some can earn over 100,000 yuan each year.

The Jiangdong gingko village in southwest Yunnan’s Tengchong (Online photo subject to deletion)  

Gingko village: Golden leaves invite in visitors

The Jiangdong gingko village in southwest Yunnan’s Tengchong city has emerged as a touristy destination over the years. Sitting on the volcanic terraces at the foot of the lush Jiangdong mountain, the village features an open terrain surrounded by fertile farmland measuring hundreds of hectares. And it is dotted here and there by century-old gingko trees. From October to December each year, the gingko village coated with golden leaves was frequented by countless tourists.

In spite of this, the Jiangdong village used to be stricken by poverty due to its poor transport facilities. As Tengchong’s socio-economic development quickened in recent years, the village also gained increasing contacts with the outside world. As a result, its eco-beauty and local actions on man-nature coexistence in harmony have been known to more. Based on the continuous gingko woods, Jiangdong focused on rural tourism. The once impoverished village has grown to be a prosperous area with fame, and the sound eco-environment allowed locals to lead an even happier life.

Picture provided to Yunnan Daily by local publicity department  

It is the high season these days, and Yang Zhuying, a restaurant owner in Jiangdong, remains busy all day long. Receiving around 10 tourist groups daily, she even skipped some of her own meals. Her special dishes like gingko nut stewed with native chicken were favored by tourists. Yang said the farm canteen brings her an annual income of 100,000 plus yuan, and the family also grows rice, oilseed rope and corns. “I paid all the debts, and my life have bettered off!” she added.

As of 2020, the Jiangdong village had opened 140 farm canteens that enriched the villagers. They said it was the gingko trees that had brought fortune to the home village. Earlier this year, locals began to invite in tourist developing companies. In joining hands with companies to develop rural tourism in Jiangdong, the villagers formulated plans for rural development. Based on the plans, the supportive tourist facilities will be improved, folk houses will be turned into guest rooms, and the eco-environment will be bettered protected. With more folks involving in rural tourism, the village has invited in streams of visitors.

Visitors have leisure in the village. (Online photo subject to deletion)  

Compiling by Times reporters; Trans-editing by Wang Shixue