Snow becomes Erhe's valuable asset

To support his small tourism business in Erhe, Lu Caishu sold his 110 cows. Erhe, a village in northeastern China's Jilin province, is known for having thick snow during winter.

Lu's decision was considered risky two years ago, especially among villagers who mostly had stable incomes from raising cattle. However, Lu was convinced that the tourist industry would offer a more lucrative and sustainable way to make money.

Last year, the money that Lu invested in his business began to pay off. During this winter, he received more than 5,000 customers, bringing in nearly 300,000 yuan ($44,500). "It only takes me three to four months to take care of my business, but I had to work for a whole year when I used to make a living raising cattle," Lu said.