An aerial view of Mei'ao village in Xiangshan county, Ningbo, Zhejiang province. [Photo/cnnb.com.cn]

In late autumn, Mei'ao village in Xiangshan county, Ningbo, awakens beneath a veil of morning mist. Whitewashed walls and dark-tiled roofs blend harmoniously with the half-green, half-golden forested hills, creating a warm, picturesque rural scene.

Once a modest fishing village, Mei'ao has reinvented itself by leveraging its proximity to the Ningbo Songlan Mountain Tourism Resort. The strategy of promoting prosperity through tourism has reshaped both the local economy and community life.

According to village officials, more than 80 percent of residents are now involved in tourism-related businesses such as homestays and seafood restaurants. In the past, villagers relied mainly on fishing and farming, which provided limited income streams. Today, tourism has become their primary means of livelihood.

Government support was instrumental in this transformation. Idle farmhouses were converted into guesthouses and seafood stalls. Infrastructure improvements, such as upgraded sewage networks and parking facilities, were complemented by training programs to enhance service quality.

"During peak season, rooms and seafood stalls must be booked in advance. Earnings are several times higher than fishing ever was," said Wang, a villager. The boom has not only increased household incomes but also encouraged young people to return home and start businesses.