This Day, That Year

Item from Aug 15, 1984, in China Daily: After sailing on boats in the scenic Nanhu Lake in Yueyang, Hunan province, tourists take a break.

The Nanhu Tourism Service Co, founded by 20 local peasants from Yueyang, started business early this month. ... The company provides the tourists with fishing boats and yachts. It received more than 1,000 visitors on its first day.

With more Chinese willing to pack their bags and travel within the country, village tourism is becoming a new trend. Its total value reached 440 billion yuan ($66 billion) last year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.