Sustainable future

陈小将

Some 320 kilometers to the northwest of Fanjing Mountain, Jinyun Mountain in Chongqing municipality has also been attracting a large number of tourists with its picturesque scenery. However, before 2018, unchecked construction was rampant on the mountain, with illegal buildings and numerous unauthorized agritourism facilities scattered across various locations.

Such unchecked development presented a significant threat to the habitats of over 2,000 plant species and 1,300 animal species on the mountain, as highlighted by the authorities of Beibei, a district of Chongqing where Jinyun Mountain is located.

In 2018, the Beibei government initiated a campaign to tackle the issue. This led to the demolition of all illegal buildings on the mountain, totaling 620,000 square meters in floor area, and the rectification of 269 cases of environmental violations. As part of efforts to restore the damaged ecosystem, a total of 775,000 plants were planted.

Thanks to the efforts, the forest coverage of Jinyun Mountain increased to 98.6 percent in 2024, compared with 94 percent in 2017. Meanwhile, the concentration of negative oxygen ions per cubic centimeter rose from 1,100 to 1,708 during the period.

Liu Hao, a native of Jinyun village, once dreamed of permanently departing his hometown due to its isolation from the outside world. He never envisioned participating in the management of his family's homestay, dismissing it as "low-end" and situated in a "subpar environment".

Nevertheless, following the announcement of a renovation initiative aimed at enhancing the homestays in the village six months ago, the 29-year-old made the decision to return and assume responsibility for the homestay.

As part of the initiative, the Beibei district government hired professional designers to provide tailored design solutions for villagers looking to upgrade their homestay facilities.

The upgrade proved to be a success. Though the number of guest rooms in his family's homestays was reduced from 12 to eight, the price per room per night has risen to 500 yuan from merely 100 yuan, Liu said.

"Our rooms are always fully booked on weekends and holidays. During peak seasons, tourists usually need to book one or two weeks in advance to secure a room," he added, noting that their income has more than doubled.

Jinyun village, which had experienced a population decline for years due to the migration of young residents, has seen a positive shift. At least five young individuals have returned from work elsewhere to manage their upgraded homestays, according to the Jinyun village committee.

In light of his hometown's significant environmental and economic transformation, Liu now possesses a steadfast determination to remain rooted at home.

"I will never leave it again," he said.