China's 1.4 billion people all usher in the new year in their own way. One ethnic group that clings quite lovingly to its rich traditions is the Manchu people. For one particular family, when they greet the new year with firecrackers, they do so with four generations present.

After playing with his granddaughter, 53-year-old Xing Yanjie rushed to the local market to get snacks for the family. And in less than two weeks, he will have another grandchild to love and spoil.

The family runs a hostel in Hetuala City, known as the birthplace of Manchu culture. From the heatable brick beds to the couplets written in the Manchu language, the house is a showcase of local culture.

“There are not many places left today that allow visitors to discover the authentic traditions and customs of Manchu... My new year's wish is that more people from around the world will visit our hostel and that they pass along Manchu culture to future generations”, said Xing.

Other than boosting the local culture, Xing also believes that environmental awareness and development of tourism can go hand in hand. "Look around the villages here, you hardly see any garbage... thanks to the trash classification project carried out a few years back. I think this is an example of why green is gold, and how being green can bring more businesses," Xing added at the end of our visit.