New Era China Research Tour - Yangtze River Chapter | Enshi, Hubei: Eating "Green Rice" in High Mountain Towns to Avoid Heat | High Mountain | Yangtze River
Wuhan, July 17th, Xinhua News Agency - Enshi, Hubei: Eating "Green Rice" in High Mountain Towns
Xinhua News Agency reporters Tan Yuanbin and Xu Penghang
"Nowadays, with the development of tourism, more and more people are coming to escape the summer heat, and our confidence in developing homestays is increasing." On July 17th, Li Jun, a resident of Lvcongpo Town, Badong County, Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hubei Province, was rushing to clean up and make final preparations for the recent opening of his homestay.
As the summer peak season approaches, Lvcongpo Town, located south of the Yangtze River and known as the "Roof of Western Hubei", has gradually welcomed tourists from all over the country to enjoy the cool weather. Currently, the number of people has reached more than 3000. This small town named "Green Onion Slope" has enjoyed "green rice".
The town of Lvcongpo in summer is full of coolness.
41 year old Li Jun witnessed the local transformation and development from a "coal economy" to a "road economy" and then to a "green economy".
In the 1980s, with the rapid advancement of industrialization, the "coal economy" became the leading industry in Lvcongpo Town. During peak hours, more than 40 coal mines in the town were engaged in mining and production, and sewage overflowed everywhere. "At that time, many villagers worked in coal mines and made a living by digging coal," Li Jun recalled.
"Coal mining has brought economic income to Lvcongpo Town, but at the same time, it has also damaged the environment and intensified the risk of geological disasters." Tan Zhijun, a retired cadre of Lvcongpo Town, introduced that Lvcongpo Town belongs to a high gas mining area, and deep coal mining poses significant safety risks. In the 1990s, with the reform of coal mines, some coal mines were shut down. Starting from 2017, after centralized rectification, Lvcongpo Town gradually shut down all coal mines in the town.
In the 21st century, the 209 National Highway passing through the town has attracted a large number of passing vehicles, and the "road economy" has gradually emerged in Lvcongpo Town, bringing new prosperity to this mountainous town. Small roadside stalls are blooming everywhere. According to statistics, there are over 40 individual businesses engaged in catering and accommodation along the 209 National Highway in the entire town.
However, after the opening of the Bayo Highway in 2017, the number of vehicles passing through National Highway 209 decreased, and the bustling town of Lvcongpo became deserted.
How to turn Lvcongpo Town from a "passing place" to a "destination" for tourists? The "cool resources" and "green resources" of high mountains have become new breakthroughs. The fresh air, beautiful environment, and average summer temperature of 22 degrees Celsius - the mountainous climate of Lvcongpo Town is a valuable resource for developing the summer economy.
By purifying water quality, protecting vegetation, comprehensively restoring greenery, and promoting ecological development, the Badong County Committee and Government have comprehensively addressed the ecological and environmental pollution caused by coal mines. In May 2018, the Lvcongpo Ski Resort project was officially launched, achieving the goal of starting construction and trial skiing that year, bringing the once dormant town of Lvcongpo back to public view.
During the snow season, the Green Onion Slope Ski Resort is bustling with visitors.
Wang Caiqiong, a local resident who used to make a living by driving taxis, has now opened a ski rental shop, earning over 70000 yuan in just one snow season.
"One season drives three seasons." The unique three-dimensional climate makes Lvcongpo Town a good destination for "four season tourism", where you can smell the fragrance of mountain flowers in spring, enjoy the cool breeze in summer, appreciate the colorful mountains and forests in autumn, and admire the proud snow of pine and cypress in winter.
The winter ski resort transforms into a grass skating field in the summer, attracting tourists to experience the thrill of rushing down. In the nearby mountains and forests, ecological landscape restaurants, tents, and homestays are nestled among them.
"The boss's service attitude is good, the food is delicious, and most importantly, the air here is good. The summer is very cool, and I even need to cover my bed at night." Zhou Yuanyou, a tourist from Jingzhou, praised the health and summer resort resources in Lvcongpo Town. He has been avoiding the summer in Lvcongpo Town for four consecutive years.
Construct project facilities such as go karts, alpine grass skating, hiking trails, and elderly activity centers; Introducing business entities such as supermarkets, catering, entertainment, and daily life to meet the various needs of tourists... With the construction and improvement of tourist resorts, the amusement projects in Lvcongpo Town have become more diverse and "playable".
The development of the tourism industry has provided people with a "green rice". Peng Feng, Secretary of the Party Committee of Lvcongpo Town, introduced that in over four years, the number of homestay beds in Lvcongpo Town has increased from over 400 to over 2500. Its construction and operation have driven more than 2000 employment opportunities, and the average annual income of farmers is over 50000 yuan.
"Last summer, all the homestays in the town had to be booked a week in advance." Li Jun, who had grown high-altitude vegetables for over 20 years, seized the opportunity and started building homestays in August last year. In a few days, his homestay will open to welcome guests, "I believe that with the development of Lvcongpo Town, our lives will become better and better!"
