Daily work has also changed significantly. Previously, villagers mostly focused on traditional farming; now, many participate in tourism service training during their off-season, learning tour guide skills, catering techniques, and more. Aunt Li, a villager who used to be busy in the fields every day, is now a part-time tour guide. She diligently studies the village's history and culture daily and practices her presentation skills. She smiled and said, "Before, I only knew how to farm; now I can tell tourists about our village's stories. Life is truly hopeful!" Moreover, with the integration of ecological agriculture and tourism, work methods have become more diversified. In the orchards, villagers not only plant fruit trees but also host tourists for fruit picking, introducing them to the varieties of fruit and the planting process.
Traditional customs and modern approaches are quietly merging. Regarding festivals, the village's traditional festivals already featured lively markets and folk performances. Now, modern tourism elements have been added to these traditions. For example, during the Spring Festival, in addition to the traditional sale of New Year's goods and dragon and lion dances, there are visitor experience areas where tourists can learn to make traditional handicrafts such as paper cutting and weaving. This integration not only attracts more tourists but also allows traditional customs to be better preserved and developed.
While external collaborative projects are underway, cooperation with environmental protection companies is also progressing steadily. A large environmental protection company has expressed its willingness to provide funding and technical support to the village to jointly carry out ecological restoration and innovative ecological agriculture projects. During the project planning phase, experts from the environmental protection company visited the village for on-site inspections and discussed project plans with villagers and village officials. The plan is to carry out ecological restoration on a barren mountain in the village, planting trees and vegetation suitable for local growth, while introducing advanced ecological agricultural technologies such as hydroponics and intelligent irrigation to establish a modern ecological agricultural demonstration park. In terms of implementation steps, the land will first be prepared and improved, and then trees and crops will be planted gradually. The environmental protection company will provide funding for purchasing seedlings, equipment, and paying for technical personnel, while the village will provide land and labor. It is expected that within three years, this barren mountain will be transformed into a lush, green ecological treasure trove rich in agricultural products.
These measures have had a profound impact on the village's ecology, culture, and social structure. Ecologically, the village's ecosystem is more stable and healthy. The construction of drainage and water storage facilities has reduced soil erosion, and forest resources, after protection and restoration, have become more biodiverse. For example, fish populations, which had declined due to dried-up streams, have gradually increased in both species and numbers as water sources have been restored. Culturally, traditional customs have been revitalized through integration with modern tourism, and villagers have a stronger sense of identity and pride in their local culture. More young people are actively learning traditional skills and cultural knowledge, and the ranks of those passing on these traditions are constantly growing. In terms of social structure, cooperation among villagers has become closer, forming a community centered on ecological development. Different families collaborate with each other, jointly operating tourism projects and sharing the fruits of development. At the same time, the village's connections with the outside world have become more extensive; through cooperation with travel agencies, environmental protection companies, and other entities, the village has integrated into a larger network of economic and social development.
As evening fell, the setting sun painted the sky a magnificent orange-red. Lin Yue stood on the hillside overlooking the village, gazing at this familiar yet hopeful land. She knew that although new challenges lay ahead, the village was fully prepared. With the collective efforts of all the villagers, the village would surely overcome all obstacles on the path of ecological development and continue to write its own glorious chapter. She seemed to see a future where the village would be even more prosperous after meeting the challenges: thriving ecotourism, fruitful ecological agriculture, villagers living in peace and contentment, and a harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
