B&Bs prospering in rural tourism market

Unique, landmark locations attracting more visitors to village homestays

BEIJING - Wooden doors and windows, glass ceilings, white walls, trees in the yard and a stunning view of the nearby mountains and forests. These are just some of the features of the bed-and-breakfast business envisioned by designer Chen Xiao, before he transformed a dilapidated house in a village of Luxi county in East China's Jiangxi province into a stylish and premium mini-hotel featuring local cultural elements.

Chen was one of the winners of a rural B&B design contest initiated by the local government, which aims to boost rural tourism through the introduction of landmark B&Bs that are hoped to become popular travel and lodging destinations.