Guzhang County of Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture is hidden deep in the Wuling Mountains. In recent years, with its unique natural scenery and profound ethnic culture, it has attracted numerous tourists with its homestay industry thriving, which has become an important driving force for rural revitalization.
The homestay inns in Guzhang County have become a new landmark for tourists to visit due to their unique architectural styles and rich cultural connotations. The Erzhuo Valley Homestay Inn has become a leader in the homestay industry with its high-end quality and thoughtful services. Located in Henan Village of Hongshilin Town, it is built by Huang Houliang and Li Yonghua, a couple of 60s generation. They have developed the homestay inn into a comprehensive tourist destination integrating natural beauty, artistic atmosphere, and comfortable accommodation due to their love for homestay inns and persistent pursuit of quality.
There are brick-red cabins on both sides of the sidewalk paved with pink and white terrazzo. The architectural style of the homestay inn combines local traditional elements and modern design concepts, isolating people from the hustle and bustle of the city.
“Guests who come to stay at our homestay inn will receive one-to-one exclusive services from butlers who will help them pick up luggage, check in, and then take a shuttle bus with them to get to their rooms. They will also help guests make travel plans to tourist attractions nearby,” said the head of the homestay inn.
The walls are constructed with micro cement, and the rooms are equipped with underfloor heating and fireplaces. There is also comfortable and beautiful bedding, a dry and wet separation shower room, and a floor-to-ceiling balcony with panoramic views in each room.
Besides, the homestay inn has its own wine bars, swimming pools, restaurants, book bars, vegetable gardens, and orchards. Both wine bars and book bars are designed with 360 ° french windows. If tired, guests can drink a glass of wine specially made by the bartender in the wine bars or read a book in the book bars. Through the french windows, they can see the beautiful scenery outside and relax themselves.
There is an infinity swimming pool, with mountain spring water drawn from the Zuolong Gorge. Guests can swim freely in the pool and lie by the pool to enjoy the beautiful scenery. Equipped with a heating system, the pool allows for swimming even in cold winter.
There are pure natural vegetables and fruits without pesticides in the vegetable fields and orchards, including chili peppers, peaches, loquats, and waxberries, which can be picked for free by guests.
In addition, the homestay inn also provides five or six sets of different types of Miao costumes for guests to try on for free. The butler also provides photo taking services, allowing guests to take unique travel photos inside the homestay inn.
Its most distinctive dish is giant salamanders. More than 1,000 giant salamanders have been artificially raised in the homestay inn. With white, fresh, and tender meat, they can be braised in brown sauce, cooked in hot pots and added into congee, which are all favorite dishes for guests.
“What I am making now is hot pot. The soup is braised with ingredients such as old hens, big bones, goji berries, and ginseng for about ten hours. After giant salamanders are slaughtered, they are boiled in hot water for about five minutes and washed off the mucus on the skin, then sliced and set on a plate,” said Chef Cai Jianzhang.
Each slice, with white and transparent meat, is put in the boiled thick soup for about twenty seconds. When slightly rolled up, it is dipped in the sauce before eating which endows it with a very tasty flavor.
Located on the other side of Henan Village in Hongshilin Town, Qingzhu Mountain Villa is a unique homestay inn that integrates catering, accommodation, and leisure activities.
There is a large bamboo forest and a tea garden in the villa, with various plants beside the tea garden. There is also an observation deck outside, which not only provides a panoramic view of green mountains and clear water, but also offers a clear view of the beautiful scenery of Furong Town across a river.
The villa has 18 rooms, including standard rooms, king size rooms, and intelligent viewing rooms. When guests book rooms, the staff will inform them of the room type, basic facilities and supporting services for each room. During the summer vacation, tourists have gradually increased, and they begin to book rooms in advance.
“I’m a native from Henan Village and work here with a good salary and benefits. It’s convenient to take care of my family,” said a staff member.
In addition to these two homestay inns, there are many other homestay inns in Guzhang County. They all have their own characteristics, some of which focus on a tea theme relying on the rich local tea culture, and some of which feature ethnic styles based on traditional Miao culture. They not only provide tourists with diverse accommodation options, but also drive the sales of local agricultural products and boost farmers’ income.
The vigorous development of the homestay industry in Guzhang County is attributable to the in-depth implementation of the rural revitalization strategy in the county. In recent years, Guzhang County has made efforts to promote the integrated development of agriculture and tourism based on its natural resources and cultural advantages. By formulating scientific and reasonable homestay tourism plans, strengthening infrastructure construction, and improving service quality, the homestay industry in Guzhang County has developed in a large scale with many brands established.
Thanks to the flourishing homestay industry, rural tourism in Guzhang County has also ushered in unprecedented development opportunities. Tourists can enjoy a comfortable accommodation experience, soak up the charm of ethnic minority culture, taste authentic cuisine, and participate in agricultural activities. These diverse tourism projects have enriched the travel experience of tourists and provided more job opportunities for local villagers.
In the future, Guzhang County will continue efforts to develop the homestay industry and strive to create more high-quality homestay projects. Meanwhile, it will further promote the integrated development of agriculture and tourism and explore the local cultural connotations and tourism resources, injecting new vitality into rural revitalization.
