by Xinhua writer Zhang Yunlong

NANCHANG, April 3 (Xinhua) -- When Zhang Na, 24, graduated with a bachelor's degree in hospitality management, she never imagined her first job would bring her back to her hometown of Jizhou in Ji'an, east China's Jiangxi Province.

Yet there she was, guiding guests through the bluestone-paved lanes of Diaoyuan Ancient Village, a once-fading settlement reborn as a refined retreat.

"I'm learning traditional practices like incense-making and flower arrangement through my work here," said Zhang, a member of the housekeeping staff at the Diaoyuan branch of Alor Valley, the management company overseeing the village. "I even get to contribute ideas to creative projects. I feel fortunate and my university classmates are envious when they see this beautiful place."

Diaoyuan's transformation from a cluster of crumbling farmhouses into a destination for urbanites seeking "slow living" is a case study of how China is reimagining rural preservation, seeking not a museum project, but rather the establishment of a living, economically viable community.

NEW LIVES FOR OLD WALLS

Tracing its roots to the late Tang Dynasty some 1,100 years ago, Diaoyuan Village is home to descendants of Ouyang Xiu, a celebrated Northern Song Dynasty statesman and literary figure. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, this village thrived as a prosperous regional hub.

But in the early 2000s, the village began emptying. Families seeking modern comforts relocated either to a new planned community nearby, or to distant city apartments. By 2019, only 20 households remained among the village's 150 ancient buildings. Many structures became storage sheds for farm tools, their walls cracked and roofs leaking. Despite receiving periodic government-funded repairs, the village lacked what the residents needed to sustain its upkeep.

"For years, we'd patch a roof here, restore a plaque there, spending millions of yuan annually, but the village only continued to deteriorate," recalled Yin Donggou, Party chief of Jizhou District. "It was a grim cycle."

At one point, only four houses near the village's central ponds were in a presentable state. Before tours could begin, the owners of these homes -- now living elsewhere -- had to return simply to unlock their ancestral houses for visitors. This experience felt more like a relic display than a thriving community.

The tipping point came in 2019 and 2020, when Diaoyuan's designation as a 4A-level scenic spot was at risk of revocation because of poor management, leaving its future uncertain. After an exhaustive search for a solution that would safeguard the village's ancient character while ensuring economic viability, the local government partnered in 2021 with Alor Valley, a boutique hospitality brand, under a model that integrates design, construction and operation.

Under the agreement, all of the village's historic buildings were re-leased to Alor Valley through a state-owned company for a 20-year term, with full consent from the property owners. Government funds were allocated to renovate the houses while preserving their traditional features, including the original facades and structural elements, and to upgrade roads and utilities. In return, Alor Valley was tasked with attracting businesses, overseeing daily operations and maintaining the village.

Starting in early 2022, these extensive renovation efforts introduced modern comforts such as heating, air conditioning and updated interiors -- while also preserving the integrity of the traditional architecture. Opening the next year, the reinvented village now hosts guesthouses nestled within these refined old buildings, offering visitors a chance to experience authentic Chinese culture through original brick-and-wood architecture and embedded historical items, including calligraphy pieces.

Some ceremonial halls, once reserved for ancestral rites, have been transformed into elegant dining or exhibition spaces, while former cowsheds have been converted into specialty shops or cafes. Even the surrounding farmland has been repurposed, with vibrant fields of yellow rapeseed flowers now serving as a showcase for organic agriculture.

Beyond accommodation, Diaoyuan has emerged as a hub for cultural and academic activities. Architecture students conduct field research there and aspiring farmers attend training sessions. In addition, the village hosted a national chess championship last month, drawing elite players from across China.

"Competing in Diaoyuan is a wonderful experience," said Li Xueyi, a female chess player from China with a grandmaster title. "The air is fresh and it's far from the noise of the city -- an ideal setting for a chess match."

"AUTHENTIC" ESCAPES FOR URBANITES

Diaoyuan's success taps into a growing urban longing for curated countryside escapes.

The village attracts a largely urban clientele, with 80 percent of guests coming from outside the region -- 40 percent from major Jiangsu and Zhejiang cities and Shanghai, all in east China, 30 percent from the Greater Bay Area in the south, and 10 percent from cities like Nanchang in the east and central China's Changsha, according to Sun Zhiming, general manager of Alor Valley's Diaoyuan project.

More than just a resort, Diaoyuan aspires to be a place "where the body slows down to wait for the soul." Unlike artificial resorts, it feels authentic because it is -- albeit with upgraded plumbing.

Financially, the project is proving viable. Diaoyuan's operational revenue broke even in 2024, with targets set for 67 percent revenue growth and surpassing one million visitors in 2025, the operator revealed.

For Yin, the key to preserving traditional culture lies in its integration with modernity. "Vibrant operations breathe new life into ancient structures," he said. "But every ancient village in China must find its own path, as there is no one-size-fits-all model."

Zhang Bei, founder of Alor Valley, echoed this sentiment. "Villages grow naturally, not through deliberate construction," she said. "What we aim to do is to breathe new life into them by blending the old and the new, creating a vibrant fusion of past and present."

Diaoyuan's revival has brought tangible benefits to its original residents, not just through rental income and revenue sharing, but also via new employment opportunities. While graduates like Zhang Na have been recruited from across the country, many longtime village residents have found work as well. Among them is Ouyang Zhengzu, 63, a farmer who now also serves as a security guard.

"Neighboring villages envy us," he said with a smile.

Notably, Diaoyuan is showing that China's rural heritage endeavors need not choose between the extremes of decay and commercialized fantasy. In its quiet courtyards, where the scent of old wood mingles with freshly brewed coffee, the past isn't frozen, but is being rewritten and revived instead.

With a slate of global events planned for 2025, the village is positioning itself as an "international youth community," where creatives and entrepreneurs can escape the urban rush to find inspiration in the countryside.

"The boundaries of work and time have been reshaped by the Internet and AI," said Yin. "More people are now seeking places where they can slow down and create."