Ancient Hui-style houses, featuring black tile roofs and white walls, are well-kept and maintained in Huangling, a small village on the middle of a mountain in Wuyuan county, East China's Jiangxi province. During autumn, Huangling residents dry all the crops, such as corn, red chili, and chrysanthemum flowers outside their windows. The tradition, shaijiu, which began due to limited space in the terraced fields, is now a phenomenon that amaze visiting photographers. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

You were a respected policeman before you returned to your hometown to start a business in 2000. What prompt you to make such decision?

The year 2000 saw the initial development of Wuyuan's tourism. I am a Wuyuan native and I knew that the country's unique architecture, culture, humanity and eco-friendly environment had great tourism potential.

Did you have your family's support?

Not really. They were uncertain about the future of Wuyuan's tourism at that time.

You had been engaged in several tourism projects before Huangling. What's your observation to the current situation of China's rural tourism industry?

The industry of rural tourism is booming after development in the recent decade. The business model has gradually been transformed from purely depending on admission tickets to exploring more lifestyle and cultural products and services. But the quality of each case varies a lot.

Your work often requires you to deal with government and villagers. In your experience, what do they care about most?

The government cares a lot of things, from economic and social benefits, social stability, eco-friendliness, to sustainable development. The villagers care about what they can benefit directly from the project.