How did Wenchuan Shuimo Town successfully transform from an industrial town to a health and wellness tourist attraction?

Accompanied by the breeze in May, in Laorou Village, Shuimo Town, Wenchuan County, tourists in groups of three and three are walking in the old streets with the style of Western Sichuan folk houses and Qiang and Tibetan style. Here, you can see people wearing Qiang clothes at any time. Villagers wearing Tibetan, Chinese and Han costumes interacted enthusiastically with tourists, and people's faces were filled with happy smiles. "To the bathroom, go straight down this road and turn right." Knowing that the two tourists next to him were looking for the bathroom, Ying Tanghui took the initiative to guide them. "Lao Ying, let's go have tea after you're done!" Just after guiding the tourists, the oncoming villagers greeted Ying Tanghui. Enthusiasm, harmony and simplicity are the most authentic feelings when walking in the elderly village.

Ying Tanghui is the owner of the Old Man Village Hotel. In November 2008, after the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake, a plan for the post-disaster reconstruction of Shuimo Town was officially released - to build a new ecological city in Wenchuan and a famous Xiqiang cultural town. Ying Tanghui, who loves Shuimo Town deeply, resolutely chose to give up job opportunities outside and returned to his hometown to join in the reconstruction work, becoming the first person to open a restaurant on the ancient street. He told a reporter from Sichuan News Network that before the earthquake, apart from a small number of local people who relied on farming to make a living, a large number of people worked in local factories. The previous village construction was also without planning. The earthquake severely damaged this land, and industrial enterprises were devastated by the disaster, but no one expected that this would become a rebirth.

In 2010, the then village chief of Laorou Village approached Ying Tanghui and asked him to join him and return to Shuimo Town to open a restaurant. Ying Tanghui returned here without hesitation and opened a restaurant. At that time, the village also regularly invited relevant experts to provide rural tourism training to local villagers. For villagers who were willing to develop tourism, the experts explained the development trends of the modern rural tourism industry, tourism psychological analysis, folk customs, and etiquette common sense, and provided guidance on Practical operations such as restaurant service and room service are taught on-site.

Ying Tanghui’s Old Man Village Hotel has grown from a one-story venue with only ten tables at the beginning to a two-story shop now. "In the peak season, the daily income must be tens of thousands." With the support of the government and Ying Tanghui's demonstration, more and more shops have opened on the ancient street. Selling specialties, opening restaurants, teahouses, hotels...the tourism development of ancient streets is becoming more and more impressive, and with each passing day, people's lives are naturally prosperous. In recent years, Shuimo Town has experienced rapid social and economic development. According to statistics, the per capita income was 1,500 yuan in 2008, reaching more than 4,500 yuan in 2012, and the per capita income in 2014 reached 11,260 yuan. More and more tourists from Chengdu, Chongqing and other cities surrounding Wenchuan come here to escape the summer heat and relax.

"I am planning to build a B&B in the elderly village. The style will definitely be based on our Western Sichuan style. This is our characteristic. By then, more people will definitely be attracted to us." Ying Tanghui Said with confidence. "Our place now has beautiful scenery, beautiful people, and convenient transportation. Everyone is welcome to come to Shuimo. Shuimo will become even better in the future!"

Nirvana is reborn, and I hope Shuimo Town will develop more and more. good.

Source: Sichuan News Network