Village overcomes jitters, ends poverty via tourism

When Jiang Wanhe, Party chief of Shisanhao village, tried to persuade his poverty-stricken neighbors in 2012 to turn their houses into restaurants and hotels, no one was enthusiastic.

They doubted tourists would come to the isolated mountainous village near Zhangjiakou, Hebei province.

"Villagers refused at first because their old houses would be torn down, and they worried the idea might not bring in any money," Jiang said.