Farmers seeking tourism harvest
Source: Xinhua |
November 17, 2011, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE old man had no idea just exactly when his ancestors began growing rice in north China's Hebei Province.
But 64-year-old Zhao Ziquan, a resident of the village of Ciyingzi in Hebei's Chicheng County, can tell you exactly when his family stopped growing rice. It happened in 2006, when growing was banned in Chicheng due to concerns over water scarcity.
Located about 170km away from Beijing, Chicheng is a major supplier of drinking water for the capital city.
The ban improved the quantity and quality of water available in Chicheng, allowing the county to send an extra 20 million cubic meters of water each year.
However, the ban came at a price, with more than 6,000 hectares of rice fields rendered unusable. Zhao, like many other local farmers, has had to try hard to adapt.
"I own about 0.5 hectares of land," he said. In the past, Zhao could earn as much as 17,250 yuan (US$2,716) from growing and selling rice. He has been forced to switch to growing corn, decreasing his income to just 11,250 yuan.
Environmental problems have also taken a toll.
"Chicheng gets hit by droughts nine out of every 10 years," Zhao said.
Zhao and others are pinning future hopes on tourism to improve their livelihoods.
Chicheng boasts several forest parks, including the Heilongshan National Forest Park, named after the nearby Heilongshan Mountain.
The county has seen tourism increase in recent years, with the number of annual visitors soaring from 380,000 to 508,000 between 2008 and last year.
In the village of Laozhazi, at the foot of the mountain, 56-year-old Qiao Hui has been busy decorating houses in the hopes of opening a motel for tourists.
The ban has helped improve the environment, he believes. "Now that water levels have risen in the river and the mountain has become greener, we have shifted our attention to tourism," Qiao said.
Zhang Yungang, head of the Chicheng Tourism Bureau, admitted that the infrastructure must be improved.
Indeed, there is no road to Zhao's village.
"Many people, including my children, work in Beijing, but I am old and don't want to leave home," Zhao said.
But 64-year-old Zhao Ziquan, a resident of the village of Ciyingzi in Hebei's Chicheng County, can tell you exactly when his family stopped growing rice. It happened in 2006, when growing was banned in Chicheng due to concerns over water scarcity.
Located about 170km away from Beijing, Chicheng is a major supplier of drinking water for the capital city.
The ban improved the quantity and quality of water available in Chicheng, allowing the county to send an extra 20 million cubic meters of water each year.
However, the ban came at a price, with more than 6,000 hectares of rice fields rendered unusable. Zhao, like many other local farmers, has had to try hard to adapt.
"I own about 0.5 hectares of land," he said. In the past, Zhao could earn as much as 17,250 yuan (US$2,716) from growing and selling rice. He has been forced to switch to growing corn, decreasing his income to just 11,250 yuan.
Environmental problems have also taken a toll.
"Chicheng gets hit by droughts nine out of every 10 years," Zhao said.
Zhao and others are pinning future hopes on tourism to improve their livelihoods.
Chicheng boasts several forest parks, including the Heilongshan National Forest Park, named after the nearby Heilongshan Mountain.
The county has seen tourism increase in recent years, with the number of annual visitors soaring from 380,000 to 508,000 between 2008 and last year.
In the village of Laozhazi, at the foot of the mountain, 56-year-old Qiao Hui has been busy decorating houses in the hopes of opening a motel for tourists.
The ban has helped improve the environment, he believes. "Now that water levels have risen in the river and the mountain has become greener, we have shifted our attention to tourism," Qiao said.
Zhang Yungang, head of the Chicheng Tourism Bureau, admitted that the infrastructure must be improved.
Indeed, there is no road to Zhao's village.
"Many people, including my children, work in Beijing, but I am old and don't want to leave home," Zhao said.
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