Tourism in China is focusing more and more on individual and unique experiences, and as a result, the bed and breakfast (B&B) industry is taking off, thanks in part to rural poverty alleviation and infrastructure projects.

After a total spend of 400,000 yuan (58,370 US dollars) on renovating their home over two years, Xiao Chun, together with his wife, have been able to stand back and proudly see their investment work out.

Their hard work on their B&B business has not only brought the middle-aged couple a decent income, but has also boosted tourism in the local community.

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Xiao, 47, was told two years ago that his hometown in northwest China’s Shaanxi Province could be a possible tourism hotspot. “But who would come? We've got nothing but mountains and ravines,” doubted Xiao.

It seemed unlikely that his home in Foping County, around 100 kilometers southwest of Xi'an, one of China's most popular cities for tourists, would itself become a magnet for visitors.

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Shaanxi Province is historically a dry and arid region. However, a water diversion project launched in 2014 saw a reservoir constructed in Xiao’s hometown. At the time, a poverty alleviation officer predicted that the project would not only bring water to the region, but also tourists. 

B&Bs, despite long being popular in the West, are a relatively new concept in China, and were previously unheard of in Xiao’s hometown. However, Xiao was determined to make the business a success.

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B&Bs offer tourists a chance to stay somewhere more interesting and homely than a typical hotel, with many family-run B&Bs providing local food and produce. With the B&B industry growing in China, more and more property owners are looking to attract customers by providing interesting and unconventional accommodation.

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Xiao and his wife gradually decorated their humble home into a place of peace and serenity. The couple paid attention to every little detail, and got innovative with their garden decorations, even combining a wooden barrel with the base of a tree to make a one-of-a-kind flower basket.

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With its simple and rustic charm, the house gives visitors a feeling of getting back to nature.

Xiao's son promised that he would come back after graduating from college, after being hugely impressed with the work of his parents.

Beyond the financial boost from setting up his own business, Xiao himself has felt other benefits from setting up the B&B.

“I feel like the tone of my whole life has been lifted. When night comes I sit on the rooftop and enjoy the glorious moon and stars. It’s beautiful. I never had the mood to appreciate the moon and the stars before,” said Xiao.

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A new lifestyle encouraged by an innovative business model has boosted this old village. Xiao’s family is just one case among many that have benefited from China's nationwide poverty alleviation projects.

Their story offers a glimpse of the future for China's villages and countryside, where the grass of tomorrow looks all the more greener.