An old woman displays the traditional spinning wheel to visitors in Nanshan village of Xinchang, Zhejiang province. [Photo/shaoxing.com.cn]

Nanshan village, at the foot of Tianmu Mountain in Xinchang county, Zhejiang, is seeking sustainable approaches in preserving and promoting folklore.

Walking through the alleys in the village, people can witness senior citizens making straw sandals and conducting embroidery on small bags at the doorways. The serene scenes and time-honored handicrafts have attracted numerous visitors to Nanshan village.

The development mode of the village was jointly created by local officials and a shutterbug named Liang Bolin.

In 2014, Liang, after thoroughly inspecting various villages in Xinchang, finally chose Nanshan to build a comprehensive base providing photography services and accommodation for visitors.

"The handicrafts and folk activities are favored by photographers, and Nanshan, with a history of over one thousand years, abounds in craftsmen and cultural heritages," said Liang.

He offered suggestions from the perspective of a photographer and helped over 10 kinds of handicrafts reappear in the village.

Due to the combination of folk culture and tourism, Nanshan has been elected as one of the province's demonstration villages for folklore protection.

The success of Liang's base assured the Nanshan village to promote green development. Currently, more than 20 distinctive household buildings are being transformed into homestays, according to Wang Liangjun, Party chief of Nanshan village.

"We also plan to build a folklore museum to display local culture," said Wang.

Opera performances are presented on a time-honored stage in Nanshan village of Xinchang, Zhejiang province. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]