Tourism reshapes lives of villagers

Tourism development in some poverty-stricken villages in Zhangjiajie, Hunan province, has helped lift people out of a difficult financial situation, according to villagers.

Quan Xiping, a resident of Shiyanping village, in Yongding district of Zhangjiajie, said the revenue from running a hotel transformed from his own house was more than 300,000 yuan ($45,370) last year. "It is expected to reach 400,000 yuan in 2017," he said.

Quan was born and raised in the village, which is predominantly of the Tujia ethnic group and located in an isolated and mountainous area of southeast Zhangjiajie. He and other villagers have long struggled with poverty, trying to make a living through trading in lumber and animal feed.