One of the big themes coming out of China's annual Two Sessions this year is Beijing's continued, firm support for the private sector. Officials say the policies backing private businesses won't change, and that the new law promoting the private economy is here to stay. They also say the private sector now has more confidence, stronger momentum and broader prospects than ever before.

And that message is visible on the ground. Across China, many places that were once rural are transforming into lively commercial destinations. But those changes didn't happen on their own, they were driven by entrepreneurs returning home and building something new. Returning entrepreneurs are injecting new momentum into China's grand rural revitalization plan.

In southwest China's Sichuan Province, the capital Chengdu – a city famous for tourism and giant pandas – is seeing old streets being turned into vibrant commercial hubs, even in the outskirts. In Pengzhen town, for example, young entrepreneurs are breathing new life into the historic old street and bringing fresh energy to the town.

One of them is Zhang Qianni. After graduating from university, She returned to her hometown to open a coffee shop along Pengzhen Old Street, introducing coffee culture to the area.

She said that local residents encouraged her and helped spread the word. At the same time, the local government supported young entrepreneurs by offering guidance, connecting resources and improving the business environment.

"The turning point came when I stopped asking how to sell more coffee, and started thinking about how to connect people with Pengzhen," Zhang said. "In 2022 we were losing money, and I seriously considered giving up. Then I realized a small-town coffee shop can't succeed by copying big-city trends."

The realization brought clarity to Zhang in terms of its business model. The shop is not a place just for coffee but a conduit to connect people with the local culture that can be unique to many outside visitors. Today, her café has made it onto Chengdu's coffee hotspot list. Visitors come not just for the drinks, but to experience the town's culture and memories. The business has also created jobs for local residents, including mothers and students.

In 2025, China created 12.67 million new urban jobs and officials expect that momentum to continue in 2026.

About three hours from Chengdu, in Jiang'an county, another transformation is underway. The county renovated its historic West Street in 2025, turning it into a cultural and tourism destination.

The street now records peak daily visitor flows of around 10,000 people and as many as 100,000 during the Spring Festival holiday.

Of its 92 shops, 91 are privately operated. Thirty-three are startups, and five focus on intangible cultural heritage. Together, the street has generated 30 million yuan (about $4.3 million) in consumption since its opening.

Zhou Renfeng is one of those entrepreneurs. After living in the southern Chinese coastal city of Xiamen for 10 years, she returned to her hometown of Jiang'an and opened a bamboo ivory carving shop on West Street.

Jiang'an's bamboo ivory carving, a delicate form of traditional bamboo craftsmanship, is recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage.

"When visitors come to learn carving, they often ask about the history of Jiang'an bamboo ivory carving in our local Sichuan dialect," Zhou said. "We love telling them the craft dates back more than 500 years, to the Zhengde period of the Ming Dynasty. Visitors love hearing that, and it sparks real interest in the tradition."

Zhou's shop broke even one year after opening. She said that it is not easy to scale up craftsmanship like the bamboo carving but she's seeing a steady custom flow and on some days, over 1,000 customers.

Stories like these are becoming increasingly common across China. From small-town coffee shops to traditional craft stores, returning entrepreneurs are turning local culture and community ties into new economic opportunities. As policymakers in Beijing emphasize long-term support for the private sector, these hometown ventures are showing how national policies can translate into real change on the ground, revitalizing old streets, creating jobs and giving younger generations new reasons to build their future where they started.

(Cover: Drone shot of Pengzhen Old Town, Sichuan Province, southwest China. /CGTN)