Flowers bloom near a homestay in Huaniao Island in Shengsi county, Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/zj.zjol.com]

The National Development and Reform Commission recently announced 122 model practices for rural tourism. Huaniao Island in Shengsi county, Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province, was named on the list.

Huaniao Island is located in the northernmost edge of Zhoushan. Local authorities have been exploring sustainable ways to develop tourism in recent years, and have made the once-poor isolated island a popular and eco-friendly tourist destination.

The tourism development model of Huaniao Island will serve as an example for other remote islands in China to develop tourism, said a local official.