Renovator builds a peaceful retirement

Five years ago, retiree Chen E'xiang rented a house in Hanzishan village, a 90-minute drive from Wuhan, the capital Hubei province. He has lived in the village ever since.

Chen, now 64, paid just 30,000 yuan ($4,400) to lease the 300-square-meter house for 10 years. Having retired from the Wuhan Iron and Steel Co, he and four friends jointly rebuilt the house and converted the premises into a retirement resort.

When the renovation was complete, Chen sublet 100 square meters of the house to tourists and short-term visitors. The rest of the property is his domain.