Red tourism shakes off shadow cast by COVID-19

Income rises

Mao Chunshan, Party secretary of Shaoshan village, said locals make money by opening eateries, homestays and shops selling souvenirs.

Some 70 percent of residents in Shaoshan village work in the tourism industry. They have opened nearly 200 homestays, along with restaurants and travel agencies, he said.

The villagers' average annual income rose to 35,000 yuan in 2021, up by 113 percent from 10 years ago, he said, adding, "Our income has risen year by year and our lives are better day by day."

Villagers benefit from free medical care, Mao Chunshan said. The village authorities also give 600 to 900 yuan to elderly people every year, and all students admitted to universities receive cash awards of 4,000 to 6,000 yuan, he added.

After renovating his old house, which is only about 1.5 km from Mao Zedong's former residence, Shen Chuhua, 40, returned to Shaoshan from Changsha in 2019 to open a homestay to cash in on the tourism boom.

He collected items used in the 20th century from villagers to make the homestay more "old-school". Statuettes of Mao Zedong also remind travelers of the old days.

"Many of our guests are either the elderly or young people accompanying seniors. Older people, who have deeper feelings toward the late Chinese leader, want to realize their dreams of visiting his former residence," Shen said.