He Chengen started collecting in 2008 everything from opium pipes and jewellery to old stereos. (Photo by Rosemary Bolger/chinadaily.com.cn)
Our guide admits that not all were supportive. "Villagers firstly disliked the crowds," she said. But government support and the job opportunities that come with the tourists have won many over. The local government has more planned for the village. It's free to walk in right now, but an entry fee is being considered. We're shown a sample room in what they hope will become a hotel allowing guests to soak up the village atmosphere for longer, while still enjoying the all important comforts such as a western toilet.
Some enterprising residents of the surrounding Jinxi County are also capitalizing on the interest. High school teacher and collector He Changen displays some of the prized items he has acquired since 2008, including opium pipes, calligraphy wall carvings and hatboxes for high-ranking officials. But it's not only the traditional. There's a row of wirelesses and some of the first television sets in China from the 1950s.
"This old technology is a symbol of that era," he says, explaining why he keeps them.
The challenge for this ancient Jinxi village will be to accommodate increasing numbers without losing the authenticity that attracts visitors in the first place. By the time our tour wraps up, the tables full of rice flour snacks and the people hard at work preparing them have already packed up. The show's over for today.
